Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Funny People

Ryan has been cracking me up lately, well, actually, both boys are hysterical.

Today I was singing a few lines from the Animals' song "We've Gotta Get Out of This Place" I think it came to mind because Ryan said something about needing to get outta his chair. So I started singing, and as I am apt to do, I started changing lyrics around to fit our situation.

I sang:
We've gotta get out of this place,
if it's the last thing we ever do.
Evan finish all of your lunch,
then we can all go to bed.

And then Ryan added:

We are so tired we can't
stand on our head.

Wow! Really? He sang it in the same tune as the previous lines, and he made a rhyme?


The other night I asked Scott if he had brushed Evan's teeth, and he replied no. I sighed.
Evan quickly responded with:
"Scott! Come here and brush my teeth!"

If I remembered everything these two say that have me laughing my behind off, I'd never be at a loss for post materials!

Saturday, January 23, 2010

A Mash-up of thoughts from the week.

I've been composing posts in my mind all week, and well, I just haven't been able to put them down. It could be all the rain. Having little kids when the sky is opening up and dumping, inches and inches of rain everyday can be draining. Ryan looked out the window the other night and said, "Mommy, your Croc looks like a boat."

One of the highlights of my week occurred while walking hand and hand with the boys, we were on our way to the car, and I thought out loud. "oh, my, it is a very blustery day!" Ever quick with the reply, Ryan said to me, "Why yes it is Piglet." I have no idea the last time I read that story to the boys but Ryan seems to remember everything. He also spent the rest of the day calling me Piglet, Evan Tigger, and Scott Eeyore.

We've been reading The Hobbit, and the other day I over heard Ryan call Evan "My Precious"

On Friday we went to the Opthamologist for yet another check up. Because of the boys ROP we have been going to the Opthamologist since the boys were released from the NICU. Our last visit a couple of months ago we were told to start patching Ryan's right eye, for two hours a day. The news this visit was that his eyes have improved, and the patching is working.

I totally forgot why I was mentioning the Eye Doctor...But, since we now see our Opthamologist at the hospital instead of the clinic, (it's a day of the week thing) we found ourselves down in Hillcrest, at lunchtime.

During the time the boys were in the hospital we became very intimately familiar with all of the places to eat around the hospital. During the week I ate mostly in the cafeteria or at the Bean Shack across the street. I could get there fast, eat quickly and be back bed side in less than twenty minutes. On the weekends, Scott and I would venture out a little farther. Back in the day, Phil's was nearby and we would go there or we would go to Bronx Pizza.

Friday the boys and I went to Bronx Pizza. And I was reminded that sometimes people can surprise you. Ryan and Evan ate their pizza and then I started taking turns holding up the boys so they could watch the "pizza guys" make the the pizzas and throw them into the air. Then, in the middle of lunch rush, one of the guys started introducing everyone to Ryan and Evan, then, Manny brought over a half thrown crust over for the boys to try stretching, Evan got a little shy and only briefly touched the dough, but Ryan, my little Top Chef, took it and started playing with it. Out we walked to the car with a huge circle of dough draped across his two little hands. (and if you've ever tried to get a kid into a car seat while he's holding a pizza crust, well, lets just say, not for an amateur.)

And here is where I become a crazy person. At four o'clock I decided that we HAD to have a fresh loaf of bread to go with our pasta. While I whipped up dinner, and a loaf of bread, the boys did this with their pizza crust.




When they were done, they looked like this. Seriously, Manny did not look like this.


I'm also pretty certain that Manny wasn't having as much fun as these two. They were laughing and pretending to be Tony the pizza guy (from Curious George). There was dough flying everywhere. There was flour, well, you can see, all over.

Dinner was a wee bit later than usual, but I was really pleased with myself. Instead of discouraging the dough playing, because it was almost dinnertime. I just went with it, and they played and were so happy for more than an hour. Yes, I had to clean up a ton of flour before I could serve dinner, and yes, I'm sure there are dough pieces being ground into my rug, but the boys had a great time.

Those guys at Bronx Pizza, thanks, my boys had a great time, and it really didn't cost you much but a little time and dough. Now instead of asking to go to Pizza Port, they want to go to Bronx Pizza! (Great PR guys!) Ryan has also told me that when he "gets bigger he wants to make pizza dough all by himself."


Oh, and finally, I thought this was too adorable for words.



Oh, and how could I have almost forgotten this momentous event. Right after dinner on Friday Ryan told me he had to go potty. He sat down and nothing came out, I asked him if he had to poop and he denied in a way that made me keep him there. Sure enough a couple of seconds later! Poop! In the Potty! And, theoretically, he did say he had to go even if he didn't go right away, there was some awareness there right? Means something right? Just humor me here. Please.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Potty Training, part -oh heck I've lost count.

So, I've been peer pressured into trying underwear with the boys. My friend Lindsay has had her boys in underwear for a little bit and she has seen a great improvement on the old potty training front.

As we are nearly four, and still show no interest in taking ourselves, or even acknowledging the fact that we have to use the restroom, I decided, what the heck.

Let me get something clear before I go on. The boys wake up dry overnight. They wake up dry from naps. They do not generally go in their pants at school. They will go to the bathroom if I put them there. They have great bladder control, they are ready to be TOTALLY potty trained.
They each REFUSE to tell me they have to use the bathroom.

The last couple of days we have been experimenting with underwear. Yesterday was good. They both wore undies all day, and only had one accident each. POOP. Yep, stayed dry, but poop is a totally different story. No one told me they had to pee, but they stayed dry. Both boys told me AFTER that they had gone poop. (and they were clearly uncomfortable with that development)

Today, I woke up and felt brave again. Although we were going to run some errands, and we ALL know my aversion to public restrooms, I covered up those cute little bums (and golly they are cute in undies) with underwear for our few quick errands.

We needed to go to Target (for a potty seat to possibly help with the going on their own aspect of this potty training thing)

We had to stop at Blockbuster (because I NEEDed the next disc in Season Three of Battlestar Galactica)

And we had to go to the store (because I NEEDed to get some yummy ingredients to put in to bread. I would have done a Baking 101, part III however I've managed to eat nearly all of two loaves of bread that I baked YESTERDAY morning, and I didn't take any pictures. BTW, Ryan insisted on helping me and he did an amazing job pouring stuff into the mixer, and punching down the dough. He ALSO helped wash the dishes!)

We left the house at 9:30. Both boys went to the bathroom BEFORE we left. We also had a very serious discussion about wearing underwear and how it was VERY, VERY important that they let me know if they had to go potty BEFORE they went in their pants. And I suppose I should have thought this through better considering I did not have a change of clothes with me...oops, won't do that again.

First stop Target. We made it though there fairly quickly and then went on to Blockbuster. It was meant to be a run in, pick up DVD, (I know exactly were it is) and leave. Just as we get to the TV aisle, and I bend down to get that coveted DVD, Evan says "I have to go potty!" Uh, oh.
Drop movie. Run to the bathroom to find it locked. Run (dragging both boys behind) to the front counter, care not that there is a line and shout. "Is there a key to the restroom?!?!?!?!) Run, nearly trample Blockbuster employee, who to her credit was moving very quickly, as I said to Evan, "Don't go yet, hold it honey, please do not go pee pee yet." (you think is was in her own self interest? yeah, me too. Only thing worse than cleaning up your kid's pee all over the floor is cleaning up some strangers kid's pee.) Evan makes it, and Ryan is forced into a since we are here pee. He complies.

Well, since we have both just gone to the bathroom, and I'm feeling good about the fact that Evan TOLD ME HE HAD TO GO to the bathroom, when Ryan suggests we go to the pet store and pet the bunnies, lorikeets and fishes, I say sure! (They are actually parakeets, but we've been to the Wild Animal Park lots) After a maybe fifteen minute stop at the pet store I decide we should walk the fairly short distance to the store. The skies hadn't opened up completely, and it would be really good for the boys to walk around more considering the rain coming.

We get to Vons, which is not my home store, and start to look for the few things I need to make more bread. (Fresh garlic, rosemary, sun dried tomatoes, and some salad fixings for my lunch today) I had lettuce, tomatoes, rosemary, and garlic in my bag when I heard from Ryan "I have to go pee pee!!!) Now, I was inclined not to believe him since he had just gone less that 30 minutes ago, and I suspected that he wanted to get a special prize for telling me he had to go pee pee. BUT, a mom of a potty training child NEVER, NEVER should choose not to believe their child. I found a guy working in the produce department and asked "Where is the restroom?!?!?!?!" "oh" he replied, "it is all the way in the front of the store, in the far corner."

He may have caught the "thank you" I shouted as once again I ran dragging my two kids, (I swear their feet might have been off the ground a couple of times like in the cartoons) to the farthest corner of the store. I placed Ryan on the potty for the second time in less than an hour, and whew, he did have to go again.

We managed to get out of the store and home again before we had to stop at any more public restrooms.

The boys stayed dry again today, so, that is a plus. But if you see us out an about and I'm running, I'd suggest that you get out of our way, we are heading for that restroom in the far, far corner.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Believe what they tell you

...those pediatricians, nutritionists, GI doctors, OTs, parents, in-laws, aunts, uncles, cousins, other parents, and perfect strangers.

Keep trying. Keep offering. It takes 20 tries.

Seriously? 20 tries? try 20,000 attempts.

Last week Ryan decided he wanted to eat some of my home made croutons. Of course I told him he had to eat salad to have croutons, and to my shock and surprise, he ate a whole bowl. The next day he asked if he could have salad, and although I had no croutons, he had two bowls.

Today I had some pepperoni in my salad (Italian chopped salad) and it happens to be one of Ryan's favorite things, he had already finished one bowl of salad and was attempting to snitch my pepperoni. I then suggested that he try some of the veggies I had in my salad. Ryan tried red and yellow peppers, avocado, cucumber, and tomatoes! He was a big fan of the peppers! Shocking since just last night he would not eat the red peppers in his fajitas. Evan also got into the act, and ate a three or four rounds of cucumbers.

All that vegetable eating lead to Ryan saying : "From now on, I love vegetables."

Did you hear that? That was me doing a happy dance, screaming from the table top!

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Baking 101, part II

A while back, my friend Lindsay suggested that we take a cooking class one day, just for fun and some Mommy time. I agreed without hesitation. After many e-mails we found a class that we were interested in and that fit into our busy schedules (and those busy schedules of our husbands too).

BREAD.

Need I say more?

So Saturday, Lindsay and I had a nice relaxing lunch, no kids, and spent three hours watching, learning and tasting bread. No kids. (oh and I found clearance Christmas M&M's for $.39 *score*)

We learned techniques for pizza dough, potato rolls, olive tapanade bread, and a yeasted German almond bread.

I enjoyed the class. Maybe a little too much.

Scott came home from work yesterday and asked me if we were opening a bakery. I went to CostCo and came home with 25 pounds of bread flour. (shrugs)

I'm planning on bringing a dessert to Bunco on Thursday (usually it is brownies) so I decided to try making the yeasted German Almond Bread. Let me just say on Saturday, by far, my favorite bread. Sweet, almond-y, yum. Because I would NEVER want to try out a new recipe on the day I have to take it, I decided that today would be a great day to do a test batch. or two. or three.

My first batch, the yeast didn't rise too much. I felt like it was wrong right away so I started a second batch almost immediately.

Because our house is on the cold size I had some trouble with the rising part of this whole bread making adventure. It just takes a bit more time. After I picked up the boys from school and the bread had been rising for 45 minutes or so I knew that the first batch was not quite right. The second had already grown in size. It was at this moment that I decided to mix up a third batch, since I still had everything out, and put it in the refrigerator to be proofed and baked on Thursday when I need it. (I think I might even bake it there so it is nice and gooey fresh out of the oven.)

I began this bread making adventure at about ten this morning, and by five I had two pans of yummy goodness. One, a little more dense, and the other fluffy and light. Both tasting delicious.

You can tell,

they were both pretty good, because I could not stop eating them. I'm pretty sure I just ate my weight in Yeasted German Almond Bread. Or at the very least ate enough to negate the 90 minutes of Bikram Yoga I did this morning at SIX AM!!! (sigh)

(Damn, I couldn't even get through writing this post without having another piece. This stuff is deadly good)

And now I have to go find some bread to make tomorrow.

Monday, January 11, 2010

Baking 101

Sunday morning, even before we could get out of jammies, we had to bake. The boys really wanted to make/eat cranberry oatmeal cookies on Saturday. I'm not really sure how it came up but it had to do something with a trip they took to Bass Pro Shops with Daddy.

So late Saturday night I looked for Grammie's famous recipe for Cranberry Oatmeal cookies, and alas, I could not find it anywhere. I sent her an e-mail but she was in Colorado and had limited internet access, so...we had to improvise. (TGFTI)

Thanks to MY activities on Saturday (more on that later) we had a handy new cookie scoop to try. It was a pretty big success. For the most part Ryan really got the hang of it quickly. Evan by the end was scooping like a pro.








These cookies were more "breakfast bar" in texture and hearty-ness. I love them. Very little sugar, very little fat, whole wheat flour. The boys, were a little less enthusiastic. Oh there's nothing like Grammie's *cranberry* oatmeal cookies!

Friday, January 8, 2010

A boy and his...

Cacti????


Earlier in the week the boys and I went to the Aquarium on our way out from this spot Evan started screaming CACTIIIIIII!!!!!


Doy you see it? Me either. Where Evan, where do you see a Cactus?

"There" he said emphatically, pointing.

I walked closer. See it yet?


Nope? Me either.


It wasn't until about here, when I saw what my eagle, cactus eyed child spotted all the way...

back there...



It's still pretty hard to see in these pictures (sorry) but there is a cactus right there in the middle of this picture.


Keep looking, it is there. And, if Evan ever yells "CACTI!!!" you would be wise to believe him, and keep looking until *you* see it.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Neglect

Yes, I've been neglecting my blog, and yes, I have excuses...

This post holiday haze has me struggling to just keep up with my everyday.

The boys have been especially needy.

I started Bikram Yoga.

and the biggest reason...

a little obsession with Battlestar Galactica.

Why was I so stubborn and set in the 1970's? How could I have refused to watch this show just out of an odd loyalty to Dirk Benedict, Richard Hatch and Lorne Greene?

The good news is that we only have 2.5 seasons left to finish.