A Distracted Life.

"Hurry up!!"

Seriously, I'm beginning to think they should write that on my headstone some day. Having kids makes this phrase a bit of a staple if you ask me. Do you have kids? Do you say that all the time? No really, like all the time and with almost every task your child takes on. Because I'm starting to think that maybe I do and I didn't even realize it. "Hurry up and brush your teeth!" ... "Get your shoes on, hurry up!" ... "We're gonna be late, please hurry!" ... "Dinner's getting cold, hurry up and eat!" ... "Hurry up and get to bed, Mama has things to do!" See, the list could go on forever! When you lay it all out like that its a bit sad, don't you think? I mean, do I let my kids actually try anything without rushing them through it?? Maybe I'm overreacting but I can't help but feel a bit guilty after thinking it through. And what's all the rush about anyways? What ever happened to 'stop and smell the roses'? Apparently I don't have time for roses because in case you didn't notice, I'm in a hurry. 

Last week I read a great post about the truth written in the article, 'The Day I Stopped Saying Hurry Up'. I could definitely relate to her story of rushing her kids around, but I didn't quite realize how much it would resonate with me until today. I had just finished tucking my two smaller guys down for a nap when my three year old decided he needed to get up a handful of times for the sole purpose of driving me crazy. Or because he needed to get a pirate ship to sleep with, his extra blankie and one more kiss. With each appearance from my munchkin I brushed him off and hurried him back to nap. The last time he stopped what he was doing and looked over at me with his sleepy big blue eyes and asked, "Mama, why I gotta hurry?" ... "Because it's nap time now hurry up and go!" And off he went and didn't get up again. Now here I sit flooded with thoughts of guilt and disappointment as I recall those words I had read in that article. Would it have killed me to take two minutes to grab a pirate ship and tuck my guy in with that extra kiss? Not at all. But I wasn't thinking about that moment in the least bit. It wasn't even about the time or the fact that he should be asleep. All I was focused on was getting to the next thing I had to do. Lunch, dishes, laundry, food network...don't judge. But really, it's true. I am too worried about what else is going on or has to be done to pay attention to what's happening right now. Can you relate? 

Now my problems don't all lie in that I rush my kids to sleep because let's be honest, I'll probably always try my hardest to get them to nap as soon as possible. But it was however, an awakening to the fact that I need to focus more on living in the moment with my children instead of rushing them through life and then complaining that it goes too quickly. The article began with some lines that reeled me in from the start, "When you’re living a distracted  life, every minute must be accounted for. You feel like you must be checking something off the list, staring at a screen, or rushing off to the next destination. And no matter how many ways you divide your time and attention, no matter how many duties you try and multi-task, there’s never enough time in a day to ever catch up." A distracted life, she writes. And that's exactly what it is. I don't know about you but I'm pretty sure most people I know, with kids or without, can probably relate to the point here. Why are we so distracted? Maybe we'd all be a little bit happier if we learned to appreciate the moment, to enjoy life instead of rushing through it, to stop and smell the roses. Maybe if we realized how great those little moments could be then we wouldn't be in such a hurry after all.

...except for when it's nap time.

Not Bad, Good Pancakes.

Today I wanted a good breakfast. Good as in bad. Bad as in I wanted some big 'ol pancakes smothered in butter and syrup. Sounds good, right? The only problem is that I'm trying not to have things that are so bad. Still with me? As I got ready to pass on the idea of something so good that it's bad, I remembered a recipe my friend shared a while back, Banana Pancakes. Healthy ones! So I pulled up her blog, Sex + Grand and checked out the ingredients. Just 4 ingredients and about five minutes. Really, does it get any easier? I figured it wouldn't hurt to try and maybe these healthy little pancakes wouldn't be so bad. (bad as in not good) Being the rebel that I am, I tweaked the recipe a bit. Not that it needed it and I'm sure the outcome tasted pretty much the same, but I get a little lazy about cracking two eggs just for the whites and decided to add a little more flavor to the pancake itself rather than just on top. How did it taste, you ask? Ahhhhmaaaazzzzzinnnnggggg. Seriously friends, you need to make these right now. If you're trying to eat clean, definitely make them. If you prefer junk, make them anyways because they're just that good. (good as in good) And honestly, they really couldn't be any easier. So, a huge thanks to my friend Krista and also the busy girls who eat clean that came up with the original recipe Krista snagged. This will surely be my new go-to breakfast! And for all you parents out there, my two year old who can't let me enjoy a meal alone shared this dish with me and kept yelling, "More! Big one!!" so it's also kid approved. Upon finishing I couldn't decide if I was sad it was gone or happy I felt full and satisfied. Not a bad way to end breakfast! Now go stock up on bananas and have yourself some not bad, good pancakes!! 

            

            

Banana Pancakes

1 banana

1/2 cup oats

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

dash cinammon

Break the banana into a bowl with other ingredients. Use fork to mash banana up. (I thought for sure it wouldn't get smooth enough with a fork but after a minute it was perfect!) Pour onto hot, sprayed pan forming two big or three small pancakes. Flip once you see it starting to cook through and finish the other side. Plate and serve with a drizzle of honey or if you're like me and still sorta crave those 'big 'ol bad pancakes', top with syrup. So so so good. Enjoy!!

PS. Krista's tip: Throw it in the blender for a smoother, less 'oaty' texture! Both will be delish!! ;)

Loving Leeches.

Happy Friday! 

If you're all caught up on the blog front, you'll recall that I've sort of been freaking out about My Man getting ready for kindergarten. It's a big deal, right? You don't blame me, I'm sure... BUT, what you don't know is that somewhere deep down inside, I'm a little bit excited too. Are you a parent? If so, you know what I mean. If not, I'm sure you can just imagine what it's like to have a little leech stuck on your leg for five years sucking every last ounce of your blood while you desperately try to regain your own body, mind and spirit. I mean, that's not what having children is like it all....forget I used that analogy. But who am I kidding, really? Some days, it actually does feel that way! Now don't get me wrong, I love my kids as much as the next Mama but I'd be lying if I said I never had days where I locked myself in the bathroom pretending to 'go potty' for about ten minutes or so while I cried, ate a brownie or took a minute to remind myself that I do actually like these monsters. Being a parent is TOUGH! There's no manual, no right or wrong way, no easy way, it's just plain tough. But the best part about it is that while there may be those days where I've done those ridiculous things that get me through, I have just as many days where I'm beaming with pride and joy because being a parent is AMAZING. Just the other night Eric and I were laughing about some funny things our munchkins had done that day. We ended our conversation talking about how being a parent is like nothing else...the feeling you get from having this little person you created and watching them turn into someone so incredible is incomparable. So all in all, the good outweigh the bad and kind of make you forget about those bathroom breakdowns in between. 

That being said, I think I've earned my right to send my little leech off to kindergarten. I mean child. Did I say leech? Oh... Well, you know. So when September comes and my little man is off to start his first day in the real world that is school, I'll surely be sad. I'll miss him like something awful... But, I think a part of me will learn to love it too. Umm, one less kiddo for a while? I think I'll adjust. Until then I'll continue to soak up the love and savor every moment with my guy before the big day comes! (Except for the ones where I'm crying in the bathroom, of course.)

Have a good weekend!! I'll be busy loving leeches...

My Man.

It's happening.

He's becoming a man. My first born itty bitty little peanut baby is becoming a man. Alright, so he's five and not exactly a man man, but it sure does feel that way. Do you have kids that are growing and won't stop? It's awful isn't it? Just yesterday he was being born and learning to roll over and taking his first steps and learning to go potty and use the big boy swing and then BAM, today he's a man. It happens just that fast! Now all of a sudden we're doing man things like getting ready for kindergarten. Okay, okay I know...not quite man things but like I said, it feels that way so bear with me. For a while now I've been teasing Owen about how I won't allow him to go to school because I will miss him too much and lately he's agreeing with me. That whole reverse psychology approach didn't quite work in my favor because he seems to think that maybe I'm right and he should stay home with Mama. Whoops. Now I'm on to reassuring my guy that he will be the coolest, smartest, and most fun little Owen ever and that he will just love his new adventure at school. Part of me is trying to convince myself that this is true too because let's be real, I'm sort of freaking out. My itty bitty little peanut baby is leaving me in just a few short weeks and I'm sure going to miss him...

Why can't he stay little forever?

The Deal.

If you didn't get the hint from previous posts about how much I adore my husband...I adore my husband. This morning reminded me of that again, and so much so that I can't help but share. What can I say, I love love. Anyhow, last night Eric and I sat around after the kids went to sleep and negotiated deals for our Saturday morning goals. Mine? To sleep in. His? The gym. Polar opposites I know, but let's be real, priorities people. After we both put our musts on the table we began to barter the extras... Gavin was still awake and Eric wanted to snuggle him in our bed (something I'm trying to avoid) and I wanted to sleep until at least 9am. Then came the negotiating...

 "Fine, you can take Gavin in the bed for a bit if I can sleep til 9 and wake up to coffee." 

"But when you get settled in the morning I can leave for the gym?" 

"Deal!"

"Wait, did you want your coffee in the bed while you watch tv?" 

"Um...yes that too." (did he think I'd say no?!?!?

"Deal!"

I think I got the better end of the deal here but I certainly won't remind him of that. To be honest, he did nap on the couch when I got up too. But besides that part, I woke up to my coffee and tv in bed to find out that they had just gotten home from the airport. Eric had taken them out early to watch the planes take off this morning. Such a good, good Daddy. AND, what makes this whole morning even better... ( and the ultimate reason for this post and why I adore my husband today) ...When Eric was leaving for the gym he began to get in his car when he noticed our little ones watching him in the window. Instead of waving while he backed out of the driveway, he took it a step further. Or like a thousand steps further. He turned up his music for all our neighbors to hear, popped out through his sunroof, and danced on the roof of his car while our children screamed and danced along. Whaaatttt?!? Who does that? Eric does. Because that's the kind of guy he is. The guy who will do anything to put a smile on our faces and remind us how much fun life can be. 

Thanks for a fun morning Bub! And if you ever see this, sorry for sneaking pictures and posting them on the internet ;-) 

Happy Cooking.

Speaking of books, (yes we're talking about books, see here) there's a couple that have been on my radar for a while now. Probably aren't as much for the kiddos, although I'm pretty sure they would benefit from my reading one of them. And anyways, why shouldn't Mama have a library too?? Yeah! So, while you're probably expecting some romance novel or a skeezy script about some guy who knows a lot of colors between black and white, it just isn't that kind of book. Sorry, girls. This time I'm keeping it clean with a good old fashioned cookbook. Really, hello 2013, right? Who even buys cookbooks nowadays when you can google, 'Roasted Chicken' and have 4952 recipes which have all been tested and reviewed by just as many home cooks like myself. But I've gotta say, there's something about a cookbook on your kitchen counter all dusted with flour while you splatter oil and egg guts all over the pages. And if you're still not with me, just think about the design aspect of a cookbook on a shelf in your kitchen. Nowww you're with me!

Either way, I'm going to tell you about the one I've been eyeing and what's even better, it's a holiday cookbook! Cheesy? Little bit. But, oh well. I actually think it will be a good read and not just a compilation of boring measurements because it's written by one of my favorite chefs, The Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond. Maybe you remember when I posted about my make-your-own Iced Coffee, or the recipe we used for Eric's Chicken? Well, both can be accredited to The Pioneer Woman! She's funny, witty, and very down to earth and she makes cooking fun to watch and easy to try at home. She's a city girl turned cowgirl, living on a cattle ranch in the middle of no where with her husband and kids. Her recipes are family friendly, comfort food - not too fancy or difficult. My kind of meals! Plus, she writes a blog, which clearly I get into. Her holiday edition cookbook comes out in October and I'm hoping someone gifts it to me for Halloween!! What, you don't give friends Halloween presents? Don't judge okay, just get me the book! Or buy it for yourself because I'm sure it's fantastic and you'll love it. If not, you could always pass it on to a friend... (cough, cough)

Check out The Pioneer Woman on Food Network or visit her blog HERE. Also, if you'd like to pre-order on sale you can find it HERE. Happy cooking!