Chopsticks

We know some really kind, loving, and generous families around here. A couple of days ago, one of them invited Oliver and I to share their Chinese take out with them. It was SO delicious and such a treat! 

Oliver wanted to be just as cool as the other kids and use chopsticks, but I think he missed the point.

One in each hand!

Now I know how Ling must have felt when I saw her using chopsticks and asked her if I could try...

However, I would probably still look just about as silly as Oliver does now and I did then. I think the Mosai will stick with western utensils.

The Art of Conversation

Oliver: "Mom, will you please talk to me?"

Me: "Sure Oliver. What should we talk about?"

Oliver: "Are you having a good day today?"

Me: "Certainly. Are you having a good day too?"

Oliver: "Yeah"

...long pause as Oliver J. contemplated the purpose of our conversation as well as the direction he would like to take it, and gathered his thoughts... 

"So...when did you learn how to eat a Popsicle?"

This Week's Goal...

Confession: I've been slacking lately in the dinner department.

For the past two weeks, I've been neglecting any and all motherly dinner time duties. I've either been gone, leaving the boys to fend for themselves completely, or I have been home with no more moxie left in me by the time dinner should be happening.

Also, I'm not really interested in food this pregnancy. With Olivander, there were constant cravings and food tasted really, REALLY, out-of-this-world amazing. Remember how every other blog post from 2010 seemed to be food related? I mean, I was obsessed, kids!

This time, food is mostly just a hassle. I'd rather eat cereal and candy bars all day anyway. It's gotten bad, my friends.

So this week, I have a goal. I'm going to make a menu, and I'm going to stick with it! I'm also going to try new recipes, because that's fun for me.

This week, we'll be eating:

Scalloped Potatoes and Ham with a green vegetable which I haven't yet selected.

Drop Biscuits with Sausage Gravy

Salisbury Steak with mashed potatoes and another green vegetable, different from the first.

BBQ Chicken Pizza with Cinnamon Streusel Dessert Pizza for dessert

Brown Sugar Glazed Salmon (because Jesse asked that we have fish once a week...he's on a healthier eating kick...even if it means he has to eat fish. You can tell he's starting to get desperate, because he does not enjoy fish) with potatoes and a vegetable

Coconut Curry Soup with rice

Additionally, Jesse has asked me to make cinnamon rolls (did you know I can make cinnamon rolls now? I can!) for him to take and share with his clinical site, which he has loved immensely. According to his logic, nothing says "Thanks for working with me, I've really liked you" better than cinnamon rolls with brown sugar frosting.

And, if I stick to the plan (and I can find someone with a spring form pan that I can borrow) I have every intention of rewarding myself with a Spiced Pumpkin Cheesecake with a Gingersnap Crust because while regular food is relatively unappealing, sugar speaks to my soul!

I'll also be sharing said cheesecake with a few friends, because I'm pretty sure I shouldn't be left alone with 2 pounds of cream cheese in cheesecake form sitting in my fridge calling out to me at all hours of the day and night. That means I'll be rewarding myself with a party, because sharing cheesecake with friends can also be labeled as "party" in my book.

So it is written, so it shall be done!

Now, who's coming for dinner and when?

It Feels Like Fall!

For real this time!

The weather has been cool with temperatures in the low seventies for days.

The lower temperatures mean that the humidity doesn't splash (and I do mean SPLASH) over you every time you leave the house.

The leaves are starting to look on the crunchy side.

And I'm getting the itch for soup, and squash, and warm, baked goods!

I think I've almost talked myself into making soup every other day of the season as it is my very favorite food group.

However, I have to be careful about the baked goods. My doctor said something about eating a nutritious diet???

He was less than impressed with the my recent steady intake of cold cereal and candy bars...I probably shouldn't add an over abundance of delectable sugary baked treats to the mix.

Maybe just an abundance.

Not an over abundance.

There's obviously a distinction between the two.

Alright, that settles it! Now would somebody please be a dear and bring me some pie?

Rocket Swish

So...

We're having a baby...

It's a girl.

We call her Rocket Swish, because that's what Oliver requested that we name her.

My mom hates it.

The nickname, not the fetus.

Hopefully we'll be able to come up with something more acceptable by the end of the year...

Summer recap...In TRUE Mommy Blog Style...Minus the 8 Billion Photos That Only My Mom/Grandparents Care About

June:

Utah

Basically, I spent the month feeling nauseous on my mom's couch, soaking up the essence of HOME. I shared a bed with my sister, spent as much time as she could stand in my mom's presence, and enjoyed seeing my family for the first time in months.

Bryan and Brittany got married on a perfect day in June. It was so lovely, and there was this amazing pasta salad at their wedding lunch... You know me and food. Oliver grouched through their whole reception. Her mom probably hates me for bringing my screaming child to her daughter's wedding reception.

There were a couple of trips to Bryan and Brittany's house for swimming. We went to Ogden's dinosaur park, where Oliver was mostly terrified and awestruck at the same time. I got to go to Sunday dinner for four weeks in a row, which hasn't happened since before I was married. It was glorious.

Jesse stayed home and asked me to please never leave him for so long ever again.

July:

We drove from Utah to Maryland in my new car. Mostly my dad drove because he is wonderful like that.

There was a short stay in the enchanting town of Oskaloosah, Iowa where there is a pastry shop that you must eat at before you die, and a park that you must take your children to before they are grown. The city of Oskaloosah knows how to make life worth living, that's for sure.

Pastries from Jaarsma Dutch Bakery. The picture doesn't do them any justice.

I got to eat my fair share of Beef Chalupas Supreme (I'm sure I'll never be able to get enough of them), and I started to remember why I held strictly to a "NO BATHROOMS BUT MY OWN" policy when I was younger.

Andre stayed with us through July and we were so lucky to have him. He kept Oliver occupied, he helped around the house whenever I asked with whatever I needed, he was fun to talk to, and he was always up for a new episode of Dr. Who. I'm convinced there's not a better house guest anywhere.

We visited a long list of places while he was here, walked our feet off, and mastered the metro. It was exhausting, but so much fun.

August:

Mike, Jacque, and Emma came to stay...we had a full house. It was fun to watch them interact with Oliver, and he loved getting to know them better. Andre all but adopted them as his own. It was a nice visit.

Jesse spent our anniversary at Six Flags with Andre and Wonder Woman. I'm over it.

I put Andre on his airplane and sent him home with a whole bottle of hot sauce in his bag to surprise him with when he got home. Both Andre and the hot sauce made it home in one piece.

I spent the rest of August hanging out with Jesse, who had a couple of weeks off of school, and recovering from the whirlwind month of July.

September:

Jesse is loving his Pediatrics rotation. He likes the clinic he was assigned, and not just for the unlimited free hot chocolate and free lunches. He's probably going to cry when it is time for his Psych rotation at the end of this month.

It's pretty safe to assume that Oliver is potty trained! And that's a big deal.

He's also got something going for himself almost every morning of the week. Monday is rest day. Tuesday is preschool. Wednesday is playgroup. Thursday is preschool. Friday is play date. The kid has more obligations than I do...I've had a hard time coming to grips with the fact that my mornings are no longer my own.

I'm the same old, same old. Just looking forward to the beautiful east coast fall season that is just around the corner...I can feel it! Also, I've decided that my son is truly old enough now to remember things like family traditions, and whether or not we decorated for holidays and things like that. I can no longer approach holidays with the level of apathy that I've shown in the past. I've been pondering things like family holiday traditions for various holidays and pinning DIY decorations like a madwoman.

And that, my friends, was my summer vacation. Probably the best one yet.

What are your various holiday traditions? Specifically for October, as I really stink at Halloween? Help a girl out!