Jamie, I could KISS you for the inspiration! Thank you!
Some of you blog-stalkers have asked via comment and/or email for a peek at "the master menu" to get your juices flowing. Well, here it is, at least as far as I am going to get this week.
There are currently two tabs on the spreadsheet! The first tab gives the overview of the entire 8 week plan. The next tab gives all the details for Week #1, including side dishes and master shopping list. I plan to make a tab for each week.
And I'm still trying to figure out how I am going to organize the newbie recipes that I want to try. I still haven't added in some of the recommendations yet because I haven't gotten to it yet. I really wanted to finish "week one" so that we can go shopping this morning!
Jamie has organized her menu a little differently, and her version may be further inspiration for you. Hop on over to her site to beg her for a peek.
Without further ado...
Download Megan's Master Menu HERE!!
We're outta here! Headed to the store! Ok... once I get out of this towel, that is...
Friday, February 29, 2008
Italian Chicken
Justin wooed me with this simple and delicious recipe from his mother when we were dating. It has since become a family favorite. Of course, I'm the one who makes it now, LOL!
Ingredients
4 large frozen chicken breasts
6 slices provolone cheese
1 jar or can of your favorite spaghetti sauce ($.82 Hunts Chunky Garden recently)
Directions:
Place chicken in baking dish. Pour entire can of sauce over the chicken. Bake covered for 60-75 minutes. Remove from oven; drape cheese over the chicken. Recover, continue to cook for 15-25 more minutes.
Ingredients
4 large frozen chicken breasts
6 slices provolone cheese
1 jar or can of your favorite spaghetti sauce ($.82 Hunts Chunky Garden recently)
Directions:
Place chicken in baking dish. Pour entire can of sauce over the chicken. Bake covered for 60-75 minutes. Remove from oven; drape cheese over the chicken. Recover, continue to cook for 15-25 more minutes.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Children Activities List
I just take and take and take and benefit from your generous advice and inspirations. I'll give back a little now. Some left comments, some emailed, and some I came up with on my own.
Here is my master activities list, in its current form. I am still looking for ideas to add to it, so please don't be shy! I'm so blessed to have such kind, smart, generous friends with such great experiences to leech from! When it's complete, I plan to post it inside my hall closet, the one with all the games and craft crap in it.
Download the list here.(link updated and current)
Ok, now when you see this list, I want you to know that these activities accurately reflect a typical day at the Bradshaw house. We do all of these things, in a clean rotation, actually. My kids never watch television and I never spend too much time on the computer or telephone. As a mother, I am filled with boundless energy, motivation, and good cheer.
(And if you don't see any new posts in the next few days, it's because the computer and I were both struck by the same lightning bolt.)
Here is my master activities list, in its current form. I am still looking for ideas to add to it, so please don't be shy! I'm so blessed to have such kind, smart, generous friends with such great experiences to leech from! When it's complete, I plan to post it inside my hall closet, the one with all the games and craft crap in it.
Download the list here.(link updated and current)
Ok, now when you see this list, I want you to know that these activities accurately reflect a typical day at the Bradshaw house. We do all of these things, in a clean rotation, actually. My kids never watch television and I never spend too much time on the computer or telephone. As a mother, I am filled with boundless energy, motivation, and good cheer.
(And if you don't see any new posts in the next few days, it's because the computer and I were both struck by the same lightning bolt.)
Children Activities
Honestly, a gigantic battle I have right now (hence, the mania) is that I can't even remember all of the great things that I want to do with my life, self, and family. I'm so tired of being inspired to do some fun or uplifting activity with my kids, just to completely forget it before I've even tried it or after doing it a few times. For example, I'll play a certain card or board game with my kids every day, obsessively, for 2 weeks. Then I'll forget it even exists for a year or so. Huh????
I'm just the same way with my personal obsessions. Did you know that I am a rabid family history addict? Yeah, I actually forgot that too, since I've been obsessing over scrapbooking for the last year. I also own a really expensive sewing machine that used to make dozens of blankets, quilts, and burp cloths, but has been gathering dust for two years. Oh, and let's not forget the 250+ winter hats that flew off the loom in 2002, when I was nesting with Kinley. Have I even opened that tub of yarn in 3 or more years? Uh, no. Why? Because I forgot I like to make hats.
SOOooooo...
I am making a master list of activities for my kids to do by themselves and for me to do with my kids, so that I'm not doing the exact same thing over and over again, then forgetting about that activity, and also so that I don't have to keep being creative from scratch.
When we have a free moment, I can just go to the list instead of wracking my brain (which vaguely resembles a sieve). When I don't have the time, energy, desire, or hormonal balance to think up something fun to do, I would rather have something to draw from that thinks for me, instead of being tempted to stick them in front of the DCDC (Disney Channel Default Cartoon).
I want to spend more time living my life, and less time planning it over and over and over again, every week, every day, every afternoon! My energies, desires, and attentions are so chronically scattered that I can't even keep track of what I want to do! I need to free up some brain space for other things.
Thus, a list, for focus.
Song List
While it's on my mind, I thought I'd mention that the best list I ever made is what I keep taped on the wall in the kids room by the rocking chair. It's a master list of all the primary songs that I know by heart (and a few hymns and other children songs). If I didn't have a list to remind me of the variety available within my noggin, I would sing the same 4 songs over and over and over again. No exaggeration.
What do your kids like to do during quiet times? Or during down times? Or for out-of-the-house adventures? Any games you love? Arts and crafts? Quiet activities? Wild ones?
I'm just the same way with my personal obsessions. Did you know that I am a rabid family history addict? Yeah, I actually forgot that too, since I've been obsessing over scrapbooking for the last year. I also own a really expensive sewing machine that used to make dozens of blankets, quilts, and burp cloths, but has been gathering dust for two years. Oh, and let's not forget the 250+ winter hats that flew off the loom in 2002, when I was nesting with Kinley. Have I even opened that tub of yarn in 3 or more years? Uh, no. Why? Because I forgot I like to make hats.
SOOooooo...
I am making a master list of activities for my kids to do by themselves and for me to do with my kids, so that I'm not doing the exact same thing over and over again, then forgetting about that activity, and also so that I don't have to keep being creative from scratch.
When we have a free moment, I can just go to the list instead of wracking my brain (which vaguely resembles a sieve). When I don't have the time, energy, desire, or hormonal balance to think up something fun to do, I would rather have something to draw from that thinks for me, instead of being tempted to stick them in front of the DCDC (Disney Channel Default Cartoon).
I want to spend more time living my life, and less time planning it over and over and over again, every week, every day, every afternoon! My energies, desires, and attentions are so chronically scattered that I can't even keep track of what I want to do! I need to free up some brain space for other things.
Thus, a list, for focus.
Song List
While it's on my mind, I thought I'd mention that the best list I ever made is what I keep taped on the wall in the kids room by the rocking chair. It's a master list of all the primary songs that I know by heart (and a few hymns and other children songs). If I didn't have a list to remind me of the variety available within my noggin, I would sing the same 4 songs over and over and over again. No exaggeration.
What do your kids like to do during quiet times? Or during down times? Or for out-of-the-house adventures? Any games you love? Arts and crafts? Quiet activities? Wild ones?
I Love Me Some VEGGIE SAUSAGE!!
I LOVE breakfast sausage. Or at least I should say that my mouth loves breakfast sausage. My stomach, mind, and over-slimed lips resist the idea. The whole concept vaguely nauseates me, but I love the taste enough that I try to just not think about what I'm eating.
The other day I was shopping at Costco. I became one of their sample-sucker statistics (not terribly unusual for me, I'll admit). The kids and I sampled their Morning Star Veggie Sausage Patty and were astounded. It's probably the best breakfast sausage I have had in a very long time...and it's meatless (soy, wheat stuff, and a bunch of other things). It has 75% less fat (and grease) than regular breakfast sausage. It's a bit of a luxury item at 35 cents per patty (and you have to buy 24), but we are loving loving them around here!
What's ironic is that the veggie nature of this little gem is written in small letters on the packaging. It is marketed as breakfast sausage. I think that is a strange choice, but whatever.
No more ground up pig parts for me!!
The other day I was shopping at Costco. I became one of their sample-sucker statistics (not terribly unusual for me, I'll admit). The kids and I sampled their Morning Star Veggie Sausage Patty and were astounded. It's probably the best breakfast sausage I have had in a very long time...and it's meatless (soy, wheat stuff, and a bunch of other things). It has 75% less fat (and grease) than regular breakfast sausage. It's a bit of a luxury item at 35 cents per patty (and you have to buy 24), but we are loving loving them around here!
What's ironic is that the veggie nature of this little gem is written in small letters on the packaging. It is marketed as breakfast sausage. I think that is a strange choice, but whatever.
No more ground up pig parts for me!!
Name Calling
There is a special little name that Justin calls me when he's really frustrated with me; he has done it since we've been married, with varying tones of playfulness and/or exasperation. I think he does it to distance himself from ownership of my behavior at the time.
This morning Tanner adapted it for his own purposes, when he was frustrated that Kinley was still in bed, sleeping in way past her usual waking time, when he wanted to play.
"Sigh... Kinley Ah-roon!!"
For those not in the know, that is my maiden name :)
This morning Tanner adapted it for his own purposes, when he was frustrated that Kinley was still in bed, sleeping in way past her usual waking time, when he wanted to play.
"Sigh... Kinley Ah-roon!!"
For those not in the know, that is my maiden name :)
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Organizational Chaos
Ok.... so....While I'm in the process of organizing my time better and making our entire life more efficient, flexible, varied, fun, and fulfilling... my house and my family (though mostly my house) are falling completely apart around me.
Hm.
Oh, but the "master menu" is looking BEAUTIFUL, almost done, and I'm almost done with the "master cleaning schedule/checklist". What's a little mass chaos and a few nervous breakdowns once in a while? Press on!! It will all be worth it in the end! Power through, Bradshaw family! You can DO IT!
I think I can, I think I can...
My Wonderful Friends
Thank you so much for your awesome help with the kidlet lunches. I got some great ideas, which I'm incorporating into our master plan. You saved the day!
Now... I'm short three crock pot recipes for my Thursday rotation. Do you have any you absolutely love?? Some your family requests over and over again?
I'm also short two gourmet meals. Do you have something in your recipe treasure trove that is considered more of a "big gun" kind of meal?
Now... I'm short three crock pot recipes for my Thursday rotation. Do you have any you absolutely love?? Some your family requests over and over again?
I'm also short two gourmet meals. Do you have something in your recipe treasure trove that is considered more of a "big gun" kind of meal?
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
The Basketball Babes
Tonight we had an absolute BLAST at the BYU Women's Basketball game. Our Mia Maid advisor is an athletic trainer with the team and was able to provide our girls with some major VIP treatment for the evening. I haven't laughed or screamed that loud in a long time. What a great night, thank you Carolyn!
Front row seats, copious beverages, too much candy...
Of course I'm the one closest to the camera. I always hate that position, don't you? It's just so not flattering.
I'm not gonna lie; there were not very many other fans attending (200? 300?). The happy result is that BYU mascot Cosmo gave us all kinds of special attention. We were also on tv probably more than a dozen times throughout the game as their wildest (and largest group) of fans! He signed autographs on the girls' hats at one point.
Some of our girls posing with the Cougar.
The girls as part of the half-time show, playing Lightning
Bottoms up!
Go, Florencia! She was the last of our group standing in the Lightning Tournament -- she was VERY close to taking the whole competition!!!
GOooooooooo, Florencia!!! Rock on!!
Old connections
Fearless leaders
The girls taking the floor again, during a time-out for "the chicken dance".
Carolyn, who made it all possible for us. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! She even took us on a tour of the locker room and the President's Room, where the prophet and apostles rest and wait before they deliver a devotional. NICE!
Front row seats, copious beverages, too much candy...
Of course I'm the one closest to the camera. I always hate that position, don't you? It's just so not flattering.
I'm not gonna lie; there were not very many other fans attending (200? 300?). The happy result is that BYU mascot Cosmo gave us all kinds of special attention. We were also on tv probably more than a dozen times throughout the game as their wildest (and largest group) of fans! He signed autographs on the girls' hats at one point.
Some of our girls posing with the Cougar.
The girls as part of the half-time show, playing Lightning
Bottoms up!
Go, Florencia! She was the last of our group standing in the Lightning Tournament -- she was VERY close to taking the whole competition!!!
GOooooooooo, Florencia!!! Rock on!!
Old connections
Fearless leaders
The girls taking the floor again, during a time-out for "the chicken dance".
Carolyn, who made it all possible for us. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! She even took us on a tour of the locker room and the President's Room, where the prophet and apostles rest and wait before they deliver a devotional. NICE!
Kid Menus
I'm working on the master menu and I'm expanding it to lunch options. I need some help.
What do your kids like to eat for lunch?
What do your kids like to eat for lunch?
Gulp
My kids love instant oatmeal and they eat it often. I usually make 3 packages and divide it equally between the two. Tanner eats his happily in about 2 minutes and Kinley picks at it for 25 or so until it's gone. Tanner has realized in the last 4 days that if he asks for more food at the end of a meal, I'll give it to him (novel concept, I know). Today he asked for more.Today he ate THREE AND A HALF packages by himself. And still wanted more. That's two and a half times what I usually feed the kid for breakfast! That's three and a half times the amount his own grandmother eats for breakfast!!
I'm starting to get it at last!
Monday, February 25, 2008
Thick Skin
Kinley: Mommy, will you sit with me on the bench for lunch?
Mommy: Sure, I'll be over in a minute.
Kinley: Great! I saved you a very big space because you have a very big bum.
Mommy: Um... thank you.
Mommy: Sure, I'll be over in a minute.
Kinley: Great! I saved you a very big space because you have a very big bum.
Mommy: Um... thank you.
On the Edge
So, it's been a week chock full of reflecting. Never a good idea, right? The short story is that I have been obsessing over my obsessions. I have officially embarked on a massive time-organization movement within the Bradshaw household.
It all began with a conversation with my friend Jamie about a master menu (a 60-dinner rotating menu that could conceivably last until I die, with flexible modifications built in). I was highly inspired by the concept, and then, in the dark of night, it began to grow legs. Scary legs. I started thinking that I could take the same approach to my entire life. For one tiny example, why can't I schedule my obsessions by week? This week scrapping, next week one of my other recently neglected fixations, then another, etc. Maybe then my fixations would get a semblance of equal treatment and I would be a better-rounded soul.
So I've started very small. Last night I went through my goodreads lists and made decisions on the next 10 books that I am going to read and in what order. I mixed it up so that I'm not reading just church books for 6 months, then juvenile fiction for a year, etc. I made the choice once; now I don't have to pick through that list every single time I finish a book, searching for "what I'm in the mood for". What a time saver! I made a similar list for our family bedtime chapter books, which will keep us going for months. Again, I don't have to spend 30 minutes looking things up, picking and choosing a new story every time we finish a book. I spent 30 minutes on the entire project last night and we are set for quite a while. I can always bump a story up in the queue if something great comes along, but the major planning has been done; I don't have to start from scratch every time I need to make a decision about the next book.
Don't even get me started on the plans hatching for my kids. They could only benefit from a mom with better time-management skills and a half-baked plan for their week!
I'm tired of not being organized with my time! I spend so much time trying to decide what to do with my day that I lose valuable opportunities to actually be DOING something with it!
This movement is gaining momentum around here and I'm seeing possible applications throughout our entire lifestyle. I'm not trying to be a regimented schedule worshipper (me? Really, could you imagine?), but it would be nice to at least have a basic outline to start from!! Why do I begin every week with the same blank expression on my face, flying by the seat of my pants? No more!!
So, now that I have publicly declared my intentions, I am committed. Worst case scenario, I at least have my books planned out :)
It all began with a conversation with my friend Jamie about a master menu (a 60-dinner rotating menu that could conceivably last until I die, with flexible modifications built in). I was highly inspired by the concept, and then, in the dark of night, it began to grow legs. Scary legs. I started thinking that I could take the same approach to my entire life. For one tiny example, why can't I schedule my obsessions by week? This week scrapping, next week one of my other recently neglected fixations, then another, etc. Maybe then my fixations would get a semblance of equal treatment and I would be a better-rounded soul.
So I've started very small. Last night I went through my goodreads lists and made decisions on the next 10 books that I am going to read and in what order. I mixed it up so that I'm not reading just church books for 6 months, then juvenile fiction for a year, etc. I made the choice once; now I don't have to pick through that list every single time I finish a book, searching for "what I'm in the mood for". What a time saver! I made a similar list for our family bedtime chapter books, which will keep us going for months. Again, I don't have to spend 30 minutes looking things up, picking and choosing a new story every time we finish a book. I spent 30 minutes on the entire project last night and we are set for quite a while. I can always bump a story up in the queue if something great comes along, but the major planning has been done; I don't have to start from scratch every time I need to make a decision about the next book.
Don't even get me started on the plans hatching for my kids. They could only benefit from a mom with better time-management skills and a half-baked plan for their week!
I'm tired of not being organized with my time! I spend so much time trying to decide what to do with my day that I lose valuable opportunities to actually be DOING something with it!
This movement is gaining momentum around here and I'm seeing possible applications throughout our entire lifestyle. I'm not trying to be a regimented schedule worshipper (me? Really, could you imagine?), but it would be nice to at least have a basic outline to start from!! Why do I begin every week with the same blank expression on my face, flying by the seat of my pants? No more!!
So, now that I have publicly declared my intentions, I am committed. Worst case scenario, I at least have my books planned out :)
Spinach Pasta Salad
I originally got this recipe from my sister, Heather. I loved it. I tweaked it ever so slightly for lunch today and liked it even more.
Anyway, thumbs up from me on this recipe!!!!! Thanks, Heather! The modifications we discussed were FABULOUS! If you try the changes, you'll have to let me know what you think!
Salad:
1 lb. Pasta, cooked al dente, drain, rinse in cold water
3 C cooked chopped chicken
6 oz fresh spinach (approx 8 cups), shredded/torn
1 C black olives, chopped in 1/4’s
4 oz. Feta cheese, crumbled
3 cups diced tomtatoes (grape tomatoes, YUM!)
3/4 C monterrey jack cheese, shredded
Dressing:
2 tsp Dijon mustard
1/2 C olive oil
1/2 C vinegar
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 tsp honey
1 clove garlic, minced
Blend dressing ingredients. Pour over mixed salad. Refrigerate 30-60 minutes before serving.
klk
Anyway, thumbs up from me on this recipe!!!!! Thanks, Heather! The modifications we discussed were FABULOUS! If you try the changes, you'll have to let me know what you think!
Salad:
1 lb. Pasta, cooked al dente, drain, rinse in cold water
3 C cooked chopped chicken
6 oz fresh spinach (approx 8 cups), shredded/torn
1 C black olives, chopped in 1/4’s
4 oz. Feta cheese, crumbled
3 cups diced tomtatoes (grape tomatoes, YUM!)
3/4 C monterrey jack cheese, shredded
Dressing:
2 tsp Dijon mustard
1/2 C olive oil
1/2 C vinegar
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 tsp honey
1 clove garlic, minced
Blend dressing ingredients. Pour over mixed salad. Refrigerate 30-60 minutes before serving.
klk
Scrapping Retreat
Today was quite a nice way to start off the week. I asked a friend in our babysitting exchange co-op to take the kids for a few hours this morning while my friend DeAnna visited. We've been friends for almost 15 years--wow, no way! She brought her laptop over and we enjoyed our very own private scrapping retreat. It was soooooo nice. So invigorating! We even enjoyed an adult lunch (recipe to be posted later). Then, this afternoon, a new friend of Kinley's invited her over to play, timed (I swear, not purposely!) just as Tanner was going down for a nap. I was overjoyed with all the rejuvenating me-time I had today. Quite a blessing, as I've been feeling a little off-kilter and frayed recently. I did manage to get the house clean and some laundry done, so I can say that I was productive.
I made sure there was enough time for the kids to spend some happy moments with DeAnna. She was our babysitter for 3 years when I worked part-time at the orthodontist office. She and Kinley are extremely close. She was also present for Tanner's birth and he even slept in her bed in the hospital the first night after he was born! Yes, she gave him his first binky :) We miss you, DeAnna! We don't see you nearly often enough now that you've moved!! And thanks tons for the Diet Coke!
I made sure there was enough time for the kids to spend some happy moments with DeAnna. She was our babysitter for 3 years when I worked part-time at the orthodontist office. She and Kinley are extremely close. She was also present for Tanner's birth and he even slept in her bed in the hospital the first night after he was born! Yes, she gave him his first binky :) We miss you, DeAnna! We don't see you nearly often enough now that you've moved!! And thanks tons for the Diet Coke!
Happily Wasteful
So, throwing extra food at the growing linebacker has definitely improved his mood, but has resulted in a lot more waste. He still wanders away from the table (another reason I thought he was full at meals) and doesn't always finish his snacks. I need to sit at the table with him during meals, instead of running around like a frantic chicken in the kitchen. I always tell him to stay at the table, but who is modeling it? I certainly can't depend on "I Always Have to Pee During Lunch" Kinley.
I need to not be afraid to throw unsalvagable things away and be more creative about saving that which can be eaten later. We all have our "price for peace", right, Heather W? I stole your morning headline :)
I need to not be afraid to throw unsalvagable things away and be more creative about saving that which can be eaten later. We all have our "price for peace", right, Heather W? I stole your morning headline :)
Saturday, February 23, 2008
I Love to See The Temple
Ahhhh.... I had the very uplifting experience of attending a family sealing at the Provo temple this afternoon. Some of our friends adopted a beautiful baby boy and were able to be sealed to him today. It was so nice to just take a break from the high-speed race that is everyday life to reflect upon commitments and covenants, and our own individual purposes on this earth and in our families.I've been thinking so much lately about how many passions, desires, goals, obsessions, and manias that I have and how few hours in the day I have to do them all! Sometimes I truly wish that I had fewer interests so that I could just focus on one or two and do them well, instead of flitting from one infatuous obsession to another, never fully developing it. An old roommate called it "scanner personality", like scanning through stations on your radio in the car. A wise mission companion once said, "Sister Ahroon, it's all about balance." Well, Terri, it's been 10 years and I still have not unlocked that mystery!
Frequent Blogger
I love blogging. It's my journaling. I've never been a good journaler before and this has been so therapeutic and relaxing for me this past year. I know that sometimes I post an awful lot. Don't make fun; you don't have to read any of it! I do it for myself and it's my personal creative and reflective space!
Revelation!
Oh. My. Land. I honestly and truly think we may finally be on to something with Tannersaurus. My brother-in-law left a smart-aleck comment in one of my posts that actually got me thinking very seriously. I'm quite embarassed to say this, but I realized that I have been starving my Tanner and I think that is why he is so irritable.
Short version: Kinley has historically been a very poor eater. Two years ago I had to cut out virtually all snacking because she would eat 3 goldfish and 2 oz of water and be full for hours and hours, ruining any chance of nutritious meal intake. She would hold out (like her daddy) until something she really wanted appeared in front of her. No fruits or veggies, of course, and only a few grains. She would have been a strict Atkins child if I would have let her. Limiting her snacks so that she would be good and hungry at meal time really improved things.
So, fast forward two years and I still don't give them snacks between meals. (It doesn't mean that I don't snack when they aren't looking, of course, because, sadly, nothing ruins my appetite!) So now I have a 5 year old who is a much better eater and easier to reason with. And I have a 2 year old who is just a much better eater anyway. Nevertheless, I've still been limiting them to the three meals a day out of habit and fear of what we went through two and three years ago.
Furthermore, let's remember that Tanner melts down before every meal. Soooo... by the time I've managed to get him to the bottom of a bowl of whatever, I'm done. It's like "ok, bowl's empty, see ya!! Go away so that I can find my zen!" He raises his hands in the air and leaves the table. He doesn't ask for more, and I don't offer. He consistently eats more than his big sister, so I assume he's had enough. (You know about "assuming", right?)
For the last two days I have been feeding him snacks between meals and he is still eating his regular meals. Today I took it one more step. He had breakfast, then we ate a very early lunch. After he finished his lunch of one gigantic bowl of oatmeal, I went out on a limb and asked him if he wanted some chicken and pasta. He said, "yes yes!" and proceeded to eat an enormous plate of chicken an pasta (snuck in a few pieces of corn buried under the pasta). Then he drank a huge sippy cup of juice. THEN got half way through a sippy cup of milk and finally appeared full.
Guess who hasn't been a basketcase the entire day? Hmmmm????? Yeah, neither has Tanner :) I don't know why it didn't occur to me before! We've always known that he inherited his shockingly low tolerance for hunger from me! How blind can a mother be sometimes??! Jeesh! Keep the kid fed and he's as mellow as a lamb! (knock on wood!)
So, here's hoping that we are headed for a good place with our growing boy. I'm so embarassed, honestly. This is yet another example of how not all kids are the same and you have to adapt along the way.
Short version: Kinley has historically been a very poor eater. Two years ago I had to cut out virtually all snacking because she would eat 3 goldfish and 2 oz of water and be full for hours and hours, ruining any chance of nutritious meal intake. She would hold out (like her daddy) until something she really wanted appeared in front of her. No fruits or veggies, of course, and only a few grains. She would have been a strict Atkins child if I would have let her. Limiting her snacks so that she would be good and hungry at meal time really improved things.
So, fast forward two years and I still don't give them snacks between meals. (It doesn't mean that I don't snack when they aren't looking, of course, because, sadly, nothing ruins my appetite!) So now I have a 5 year old who is a much better eater and easier to reason with. And I have a 2 year old who is just a much better eater anyway. Nevertheless, I've still been limiting them to the three meals a day out of habit and fear of what we went through two and three years ago.
Furthermore, let's remember that Tanner melts down before every meal. Soooo... by the time I've managed to get him to the bottom of a bowl of whatever, I'm done. It's like "ok, bowl's empty, see ya!! Go away so that I can find my zen!" He raises his hands in the air and leaves the table. He doesn't ask for more, and I don't offer. He consistently eats more than his big sister, so I assume he's had enough. (You know about "assuming", right?)
For the last two days I have been feeding him snacks between meals and he is still eating his regular meals. Today I took it one more step. He had breakfast, then we ate a very early lunch. After he finished his lunch of one gigantic bowl of oatmeal, I went out on a limb and asked him if he wanted some chicken and pasta. He said, "yes yes!" and proceeded to eat an enormous plate of chicken an pasta (snuck in a few pieces of corn buried under the pasta). Then he drank a huge sippy cup of juice. THEN got half way through a sippy cup of milk and finally appeared full.
Guess who hasn't been a basketcase the entire day? Hmmmm????? Yeah, neither has Tanner :) I don't know why it didn't occur to me before! We've always known that he inherited his shockingly low tolerance for hunger from me! How blind can a mother be sometimes??! Jeesh! Keep the kid fed and he's as mellow as a lamb! (knock on wood!)
So, here's hoping that we are headed for a good place with our growing boy. I'm so embarassed, honestly. This is yet another example of how not all kids are the same and you have to adapt along the way.
Improvisation
Kinley wanted to go swimming this morning. It's February. Voila. She further requested that she be able to use her beach towel to dry off.
Is anybody else ready for just a little springtime sun??
Is anybody else ready for just a little springtime sun??
My Best Helper
Kinley loves to help me in the kitchen. I need to recommit to allowing her help, instead of shooing her out of the kitchen during meal prep. I need to slow down and take more time to enjoy the small moments together. Hey, and if I can appeal to my selfish side: the earlier she learns to cook, the sooner she can take over meals once in a while, right??
New Pages
Credits: Shannon Carlson's "Brand New Baby" kit. Font is Journal.
Credits: "Being Me" kit by Gina Marie Huff of Weeds and Wildflowers Design. Fonts are Stamp Act and Journal
Friday, February 22, 2008
Sweet Face
I love this picture of baby Tanner. Thanks so much, Heather W. for the great special effects instructions!
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Googlereader Commercial
Timesaving Alert Below
This is a plug for "googlereader", NOT to be confused with "goodreads". If you are a blog stalker, if you keep up with more than 2 friends or family members with blogs, then googlereader is a time saving tool for you! Thank you, Mindy, for opening my eyes to yet another wonderful internet tool!
Are you tired of checking your friends' blogs every day, hoping for a new update, a snippet, a teeny peek into their daily lives? Let's be honest, are you tired of checking them obsessively several times a day for that snippet? Don't obsess anymore!!!
Sign in to www.google.com/reader and let them do your stalking. Type in the addresses of all your favorite people (because they all have blogs, right?) and when they post an update, it will appear in the googlereader display box. No more wondering, no more hoping, no more clicking down your list one at a time. No more wasting time!!! When someone you know/love/stalk makes a post, you will be notified!
You can read the entry and even view pictures right in the display box, or, if you you are like me and prefer to bask in the ambience of their personal blog, you can click on the post, or the blog title and it will take you directly to your loved one's blog. Then, of course, you can choose to leave them a friendly comment or sneak away unseen and unknown (you know who you are!)
Some people only update their blogs once a week, or once a month, or even once a year! This is the ultimate blog-stalking solution! I've been using it for months and I absolutely couldn't live without it.
Small print: It takes anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours for update feeds to appear. Private/passworded addresses do not work. Oh yeah, and it's TOTALLY free. If you already have a blog, you will likely find yourself already "logged-in" when you go to the site. Enjoy!
A little tip: on the left you'll see links that say "updated" and "all", make sure you click on "updated", so that the only blogs that appear in your "inbox" are ones with fresh posts.
This is a plug for "googlereader", NOT to be confused with "goodreads". If you are a blog stalker, if you keep up with more than 2 friends or family members with blogs, then googlereader is a time saving tool for you! Thank you, Mindy, for opening my eyes to yet another wonderful internet tool!
Are you tired of checking your friends' blogs every day, hoping for a new update, a snippet, a teeny peek into their daily lives? Let's be honest, are you tired of checking them obsessively several times a day for that snippet? Don't obsess anymore!!!
Sign in to www.google.com/reader and let them do your stalking. Type in the addresses of all your favorite people (because they all have blogs, right?) and when they post an update, it will appear in the googlereader display box. No more wondering, no more hoping, no more clicking down your list one at a time. No more wasting time!!! When someone you know/love/stalk makes a post, you will be notified!
You can read the entry and even view pictures right in the display box, or, if you you are like me and prefer to bask in the ambience of their personal blog, you can click on the post, or the blog title and it will take you directly to your loved one's blog. Then, of course, you can choose to leave them a friendly comment or sneak away unseen and unknown (you know who you are!)
Some people only update their blogs once a week, or once a month, or even once a year! This is the ultimate blog-stalking solution! I've been using it for months and I absolutely couldn't live without it.
Small print: It takes anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours for update feeds to appear. Private/passworded addresses do not work. Oh yeah, and it's TOTALLY free. If you already have a blog, you will likely find yourself already "logged-in" when you go to the site. Enjoy!
A little tip: on the left you'll see links that say "updated" and "all", make sure you click on "updated", so that the only blogs that appear in your "inbox" are ones with fresh posts.
I Need A Plan
I soooooo need a plan for Tannersaurus Rex. He's wearing me out with his tantrums, big and small. I realized this afternoon that every time he does it, I continue to be utterly surprised and caught off guard. And when you continue to be surprised, you have no plan of action. And when you have no plan of action, you definitely don't have a consistent plan of action. I'm not consistent with him in this particular area at all and I'm beginning to suspect that that may be a large contributing factor. Ding ding ding!! But before I can be consistent, I need to decide what it is that I'm going to do!
Sometimes I let it go until it escalates to an abominable level before I intervene. Other times I jump on it at the first peep. Still other times, I rationalize to myself that I've curbed the worst of it, so go ahead and give him whatever it was he wanted if he just stops yelling at me for 30 seconds. Other times I draw a line in the sand and stand my ground with my brown-eyed twerp and refuse to cave because he's behaving so rudely. How in the world did I get so inconsistent? PLUS, it used to be that I would put him in time-out until he calmed himself down. Now he's getting smart enough to stop screaming as he's being dragged to time-out. So, what? He just gets off scott free? We've never done the 2-minute timed time out or anything. It's always been a "you sit there until you can get a hold of yourself" kind of thing. Argh! That's only a small component of what I need to decide.
Soooooo... now that I think I know the problem, I have to figure out what I'm doing to do about it. Ugh.
Sometimes I let it go until it escalates to an abominable level before I intervene. Other times I jump on it at the first peep. Still other times, I rationalize to myself that I've curbed the worst of it, so go ahead and give him whatever it was he wanted if he just stops yelling at me for 30 seconds. Other times I draw a line in the sand and stand my ground with my brown-eyed twerp and refuse to cave because he's behaving so rudely. How in the world did I get so inconsistent? PLUS, it used to be that I would put him in time-out until he calmed himself down. Now he's getting smart enough to stop screaming as he's being dragged to time-out. So, what? He just gets off scott free? We've never done the 2-minute timed time out or anything. It's always been a "you sit there until you can get a hold of yourself" kind of thing. Argh! That's only a small component of what I need to decide.
Soooooo... now that I think I know the problem, I have to figure out what I'm doing to do about it. Ugh.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Minimalist Mama
We've had a variety of extra little friends running around the house for the last several days; it's been very busy and mostly very fun (hee hee! Oh, come on, no one likes changing poopy diapers!) But today? Today I woke up and decided to do nothing. Nothing at all. Except read a book. And scrap a little. I pulled it together late this afternoon to take a long, luxurious bath, chat on the phone (yep, in the bath, ha ha!), then race to clean up last night's dishes out of the sink, bake a cake for YW, and get dinner started only a few minutes before Justin walked in the door. 30 minutes of productivity in an otherwise quite, um, "undisciplined" day.
Around 6:30 tonight, just before YW, I decided to run a brush through Kinley's hair so she wouldn't look like an orphan. Tonight Justin is at the BYU-Utah basketball game, so I took both of the kids with me to YW. Boy, that was fun :) So, I was world's most neglectful mom for most of the day. Well, maybe not the world's. I did feed them... Anyway, there were many many many cartoons at the Bradshaw house today and they were both bored enough to take astonishingly loooooong afternoon naps. We actually woke up the Ticking Toddler Timebomb after 6 tonight, so that he could have time to eat his dinner before we left to pick up some ice cream for YW. Everyone thought he looked so adorable in his pajamas. Thankfully, they didn't smell like he'd been in them since yesterday.
Speaking of dinner, we had hawaiian haystacks, which I love and Justin does not love. I enjoyed it. Why? Because Tanner was sleeping. I didn't have to endure 20+ minutes of "Eeeeeeeat! Eeeeeeeeeat!" during meal preparations, resulting in me arriving at the table harried and twitching with anxiety, ready to explode. Nor did I have to play the "take a bite or don't take a bite; I don't really care, but I'm not going to hold the spoon in front of your face all night" game. I had forgotten how nice mealtime can be. Justin always wonders why I shovel the food into my mouth as fast as I can and then flee the kitchen to find my happy place. He's not usually there during most of the meal preparations, while I'm getting yelled at, whined at, cried at, and tantrumed at by a hungry 2-year old, dragging his crabby butt upstairs to time-out a bazillion times in the process. His nerves would be shot to hell too, I think. By the time I sit down to the table, I just want dinner to be ooooooooover. By that point, I'm jumpy and defensive and poised to throttle anyone who has anything even remotely negative about the meal that I prepared. Don't you be asking me why I didn't make the other salmon, if you know what's good for you!
Wow, that was quite the little rant, eh? I figured a little reality post was in order, after all my "aren't I such a great mom" posts lately :) Just keepin' it real. Very therapeutic :)
Around 6:30 tonight, just before YW, I decided to run a brush through Kinley's hair so she wouldn't look like an orphan. Tonight Justin is at the BYU-Utah basketball game, so I took both of the kids with me to YW. Boy, that was fun :) So, I was world's most neglectful mom for most of the day. Well, maybe not the world's. I did feed them... Anyway, there were many many many cartoons at the Bradshaw house today and they were both bored enough to take astonishingly loooooong afternoon naps. We actually woke up the Ticking Toddler Timebomb after 6 tonight, so that he could have time to eat his dinner before we left to pick up some ice cream for YW. Everyone thought he looked so adorable in his pajamas. Thankfully, they didn't smell like he'd been in them since yesterday.
Speaking of dinner, we had hawaiian haystacks, which I love and Justin does not love. I enjoyed it. Why? Because Tanner was sleeping. I didn't have to endure 20+ minutes of "Eeeeeeeat! Eeeeeeeeeat!" during meal preparations, resulting in me arriving at the table harried and twitching with anxiety, ready to explode. Nor did I have to play the "take a bite or don't take a bite; I don't really care, but I'm not going to hold the spoon in front of your face all night" game. I had forgotten how nice mealtime can be. Justin always wonders why I shovel the food into my mouth as fast as I can and then flee the kitchen to find my happy place. He's not usually there during most of the meal preparations, while I'm getting yelled at, whined at, cried at, and tantrumed at by a hungry 2-year old, dragging his crabby butt upstairs to time-out a bazillion times in the process. His nerves would be shot to hell too, I think. By the time I sit down to the table, I just want dinner to be ooooooooover. By that point, I'm jumpy and defensive and poised to throttle anyone who has anything even remotely negative about the meal that I prepared. Don't you be asking me why I didn't make the other salmon, if you know what's good for you!
Wow, that was quite the little rant, eh? I figured a little reality post was in order, after all my "aren't I such a great mom" posts lately :) Just keepin' it real. Very therapeutic :)
Bazniicas Website Latvieshu Valodaa
Paldies, Dad!
Rekur, draugi kuri arii miil savu miiljo Latviju! Brinishkjiigi, vai nee?
http://www.jezuskristusbaznica.lv/
Rekur, draugi kuri arii miil savu miiljo Latviju! Brinishkjiigi, vai nee?
http://www.jezuskristusbaznica.lv/
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
It's Not My Fault
Out of the blue this morning:
Kinley: Mommy, it's not my fault that I fell in love with Lola (the neighbor dog) and Sebastian (the neighbor cat). They thought I was their friend because I talked to them and was kind to them. They fell in love with me first. So then I fell in love with them second. So, it's not my fault; it's theirs. I speak 'dog', did you know that?."
Mommy: Oh yes, I certainly do know that.
Kinley: Mommy, it's not my fault that I fell in love with Lola (the neighbor dog) and Sebastian (the neighbor cat). They thought I was their friend because I talked to them and was kind to them. They fell in love with me first. So then I fell in love with them second. So, it's not my fault; it's theirs. I speak 'dog', did you know that?."
Mommy: Oh yes, I certainly do know that.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Jungle Book
Saturday was definitely a busy day for the Bradshaw Babes. In the afternoon, Tanner stayed home (again) with Daddy, to nap while Kinley and I went to BYU campus with some friends to catch a production of "The Jungle Book". It wasn't the Disney version; it was an artistic adaptation of the original Rudyard Kipling story. It was "theater for young audiences" and geared toward children. These BYU students travel around the valley performing in various elementary schools, and they also had several performances at the campus Fine Arts center. It. was. a. blast!
It was 45 minutes long, perfect for short attention spans!!
The actress who played Mowgli's wolf-mama was our friend Joe's sister.
Kinley hanging out in the lobby with some gal pals after the performance.
Kinley wanted to meet all of the cast members after the performance. She was insistent upon which ones (most of them!) Here she is with Baloo the Bear.
One of the wolf sisters.
Shere Khan! Regardless of how she is protecting her personal space in some of these pictures, I assure you she instigated each and every one of these introductions and photos :)
Bagheera the panther
Mowgli's human mama.
Mowgli himself
It was 45 minutes long, perfect for short attention spans!!
The actress who played Mowgli's wolf-mama was our friend Joe's sister.
Kinley hanging out in the lobby with some gal pals after the performance.
Kinley wanted to meet all of the cast members after the performance. She was insistent upon which ones (most of them!) Here she is with Baloo the Bear.
One of the wolf sisters.
Shere Khan! Regardless of how she is protecting her personal space in some of these pictures, I assure you she instigated each and every one of these introductions and photos :)
Bagheera the panther
Mowgli's human mama.
Mowgli himself
Saturday Morning Primary Activity
On Saturday morning, Tanner stayed with Daddy at home while I took Kinley to the Primary activity. It turned out to be a happy thing that I had my camera handy to capture the festivities.
To kick off the "I am a Child of God" theme, there were several activities in 4 different rooms that focused on the concept "We are all unique"! Kinley had a marvelous time; there appeared to be a great turnout, and I thought the presentations were very well done.
In room #1 they played a variety of games and sung a myriad of songs that encouraged uniqueness. See that uniquely adorable little smile right dead center?
In room #2 Jodie gave a presentation on a variety of disabilities.
In room #3, one of our resident music wonderwomen, Julianna, taught the concept through song and instrument use. (Everyone got to choose a unique instrument, then find 2 different ways to play each of them.)
In room #4, the sugar-high room, the children decorated cookies in whatever unique way they wanted, with whatever toppings and colors appealed to them. My gratitude to the leaders for allowing Kinley to make an extra cookie for her brother. She just can't eat treats in good conscience if she isn't also providing for Tanner in the process. It's terribly inspirational, that attitude of hers.
Oh, and one of my favorite activities happened in room #1; while some were singing songs and playing games, a few children at a time had their silouettes traced. I thought that was a wonderful idea!
Silouette wall!
To kick off the "I am a Child of God" theme, there were several activities in 4 different rooms that focused on the concept "We are all unique"! Kinley had a marvelous time; there appeared to be a great turnout, and I thought the presentations were very well done.
In room #1 they played a variety of games and sung a myriad of songs that encouraged uniqueness. See that uniquely adorable little smile right dead center?
In room #2 Jodie gave a presentation on a variety of disabilities.
In room #3, one of our resident music wonderwomen, Julianna, taught the concept through song and instrument use. (Everyone got to choose a unique instrument, then find 2 different ways to play each of them.)
In room #4, the sugar-high room, the children decorated cookies in whatever unique way they wanted, with whatever toppings and colors appealed to them. My gratitude to the leaders for allowing Kinley to make an extra cookie for her brother. She just can't eat treats in good conscience if she isn't also providing for Tanner in the process. It's terribly inspirational, that attitude of hers.
Oh, and one of my favorite activities happened in room #1; while some were singing songs and playing games, a few children at a time had their silouettes traced. I thought that was a wonderful idea!
Silouette wall!
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