Let's play a game!

 It's that time, boys and girls.  I have reached my breaking point...

It's time to clean out my purse! 

This is perhaps the worst I have ever seen. 

Now, let me assure you.   I carry a BIG purse.  My purses are no longer chosen by fashion standards. 

Oh no.

Like most every part of my life these days, they are chosen for function.  Utilitarian.  Mainly... How-much-crap-can-it-hold?

It's interesting though... When I take it allll  out and lay it on my bed... Only maybe half this stuff is even mine.  I certainly didn't know I was carrying it all around with me every day!

So...I was wondering... If I was buried in a massive mudslide or something and 1,000 years from now  some archeologist were to dig me up... What would they know about me, based on what I have in my purse?  Haha 

Let's take a look, shall we? 

Exhibit A:

Well, I definitely go to church. LOL  I had two church bulletins, And my kids' name tag stickers from March 30, April 6, April 20, and May 11th.   Also, I  had a birthday invitation, a program from the YMCA Easter egg hunt, a Royals schedule, and a shopping list from our girls' trip to Florida in March.  And my battery charger for my DSLR. And a ticket stub from the movie "Mom's Night Out"  (really excellent movie, by the way!).  And a coin purse that contains or health insurance cards, etc.  And a sample of a soy candle that we  got at the  City Market.  Chestnut and Brown Sugar.  Mmmmm. 

Exhibit B:

Lotion. Headphones. Sunglasses in their sunglass case. 

A paper cross necklace (no idea how that got in there) 

My husband's non-working old cell phone 

My name badge for work

Some breath mints 

Two spoons and a plastic knife (!) 

A tiny hairbrush 

Two (!)  bottles of eye drops 

Little girl hair barrettes

Two Ben Ten bracelets

A used up tube of Abreva

Three pop up alien toys

Two empty plastic Easter eggs 

Some lip balm 

A couple of mint candies 

My wallet

A container of coconut oil 

A Hot Wheels car

Exhibit C:

A washcloth 

Reading glasses (NOT that I need them!) 

My daughter's silver locket

A hair clip

Lipstick 

Two light up spiky balls 

An unopened box of ibuprofen 

Four pens

A mechanical pencil 

A star wars eraswr

A hairband and 4 Bobby pins

Keys to the hubby's car

$1.10 in change and 3 tokens for Chuck E Cheese 

A life-sized model of a 12 week old fetus

Random receipts and trash

Packaging from my new eyeshadow brush 

My paycheck from the Board of election commissioners

And one very nasty zip loc bag of tater tots. (I guess one of my kids put it in there so they would have a snack?  But. .. When?) 

Phew.  That's a lot of crap.

Most of this "stuff"--especially the really weird and nasty stuff--wasn't even put there by me. Somebody else gave me THEIR stuff to carry around in my bag. Their burden became my burden.

My purse is soooo a metaphor for how I am often tempted to live my life. I don't want all that mess. I didn't ask for it. But...I lug it around with me every day.  It's way too much.  It gets in the way.

But I don't need to carry any of that junk...mine or everyone else's.  There's Someone who would be happy to take every burden, if I would only bring it to Him.

Lord, help me to learn to give everything to You, so my "bag" can be packed with the BEST stuff...and so that when you call me, I will be ready to go with You...wherever You lead me in this adventure of life.

I'm thinking about expanding this blog a little, to include hosting recipes I've been posting in my new facebook community, www.facebook.com/delitefuldinners, but to be honest, I'm not exactly sure how to go about design and layout here on blogger, beyond using a simple template.

Buckle your seatbelts...it might get a little bumpy around here for a few days...but hopefully, as with all good construction projects, when the dust settles, it will be worth it. :)

Day one. Again.

A couple of years ago, I managed to lose a whopping 85 lbs!   Eighty.  Five.  Pounds. 

Then... Life happened, and I stopped going to the gym.  We started homeschooling.  My husband started a new job.  And little by little, I gained back 75. 

One handful of chips...

one cookie...

one Route 44 soft drink...

one extra helping at a time. 

What happened? Where did my motivation go? How did I allow this to happen? Again?

I've been giving that a lot of thought lately.  I remember a few awkward and apparently meaningful moments.

We were out to eat dinner, and I whipped out my phone to try and figure the nutritional information before I ordered... And my husband said, "Why can't you just relax once in a while? It's like you're obsessed with this whole thing."  And I felt... embarrassed.

I was at work one day, and a co-worker, trying to complement me, said, "You're just disappearing!"  And I felt... invisible.

I went to the doctor one day, looking for encouragement about the weight I had lost, and instead, he chose to talk about how far I still had to go.  And I felt... discouraged.

I  lost 85 pounds and my husband and I still fought too much.  And I felt... unlovable.

I looked in the mirror one day, and was horrified at the loose skin hanging on my thighs from such dramatic weight loss, and I felt... Ugly.

And so now it's all back.  And I'm paying the ultimate price.  I'm now on medication for blood pressure.  My back and my knees are in constant, chronic pain. I'm tired and cranky and feel pretty unworthy of love.

But... That's simply not true.  I am worth it. My kids are worth it. 

Worth it.

And worthy, no matter my genes, or the size of my jeans.

So today, I begin again.

:-)

Roe vs. Wade

55 million Dead.

With 40 years of abortion on demand in the United States, we have the blood of more than 55 million dead children on our hands.

Do you realize how many 55 million really is?

It's the entire population of the Nation's top 80 cities.  Combined.  God have mercy.


New York, NY
Los Angeles, CA
Chicago, IL
Houston, TX
Philedelphia, PA
Phoenix, AZ
San Antonio, TX
San Diego, CA
Dallas, TX
San Jose, CA
Jacksonville, FL
Indianapolis, IN
Austin, TX
San Francisco, CA
Columbus, OH
Ft. Worth, TX
Charlotte, NC
Detroit, MI
El Paso, TX
Memphis, TN
Boston, MA
Seattle, WA
Nashville, TN
Louisville, KY
Milwalkee, WI
Portland, OR
Oklahoma City, OK
Las Vegas, NV
Albequerque, NM
Tuscon, AZ
Fresno, CA
Sacramento, CA
Long Beach, CA
Kansas City, MO
Mesa, AZ
Virginia Beach, VA
Atlanta, GA
Colorado Springs, CO
Raleigh, NC
Omaha, NE
Miami, FL
Tulsa, OK
Oakland, CA
Cleaveland, OH
Mineapolis, MN
Wichita, KS
Arlington, VA
New Orleans, LA
Bakersfield, CA
Tampa, FL
Aneheim, CA
Honolulu, HI
Aurora, CO
Santa Anna, CA
St. Louis, MO
Riverside, CA
Corpus Christi, TX
Pittsburgh, PA
Lexington, KY
Stockton, CA
Cincinnatti, OH
Anchorage, AK
St. Paul, MN
Toledo, OH
Newark, NJ
Greensboro, NC
Plano, TX
Lincoln, NE
Buffalo, NY
Henderson, NV
Ft. Wayne, IN
Jersey City, NJ
Chula Vista, CA
St. Petersburg, FL
Orlando, FL
Norfolk, VA
Laredo, TX

Think about it.

Common Core...a Primer, and Why it should matter to you.

I have noticed a trend lately amongst my friends.  Now that schools are underway again, lots of parents are finding themselves looking straight down the barrel toward some major changes at their child's school.  Parents are complaining that their child has more homework than ever before.  And what's with all the writing?  and the new way they're teaching math?  Parents maybe aren't sure what's happened, but they are definitely noticing that there has been a shift...and it's pretty drastic.

So, I decided to put together this blog post, compiled originally from a conversation on facebook, to serve as a little primer.  Common Core 101, if you will.  Now, there are certainly many, many people out there who have written exhaustively about the subject, in much more eloquent terms.  I will be linking to several of those sources throughout this post.  But my intention is simply to give a starting place to those parents, teachers, students, and concerned citizens who may be wondering, "What's this all about?"

I have some very strong opinions about The Common Core. It's pretty sinister. Seriously...bad, bad stuff...and although in the homeschool world, parents are in an uproar about it, I find that very few public school or private school parents in my circles know anything about it. Unfortunately, we homeschoolers have been forced to learn about it because many of our trusted curriculum publishers have chosen to align with the new standards...so we were placed in a position of having to do a TON of research before we choose what to use in our families!  Many in the homeschool world believe that no child will be able to escape the Common Core, eventually including, unfortunately, homeschooled kids. Some believe that these standards may give the federal government power to intervene and even outlaw homeschooling altogether. 

By the way, have you seen what's happening in Germany?

First and foremost, let me say this:  although the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) have been adopted in forty-five states, the District of Columbia, four territories, and the Department of Defense Education Activity, the matter is far from settled.  As a matter of fact, many States are fighting back!  For a look at what's happening in your particular state, take a look here:



You see, the CCSS were not the brainchild of trusted educators across the country.  They were not the result of years of research into the most effective way to educate our students.  They were not even approved by the state or local governments, and no vote was ever taken before they were adopted.  

The US Department of Education, under President Obama, offered very large incentives to states to adopt these nationalized standards under a program called "Race to the Top"...to the tune of millions and millions of dollars to each state. So a bunch of bureaucrats in Washington convinced a bunch of bureaucrats in those 45 states, DC, four territories, and the DOD to adopt these standards...WITHOUT ANY PROOF that they are superior...without any field testing...and WITHOUT ANY INPUT FROM ACTUAL TEACHERS. Of course, this is an overreach of federal power under the Tenth Amendment.

Amendment X

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

The Federal government has absolutely no business telling teachers in your hometown how or what to teach. But that's what they're doing...down to pushing for only certain teaching methodology.

When you are ready to delve into it deeper, check out Michelle Malkin's work on the issue. She has done exhaustive writing about the issue. It's very in-depth, but very good! Here's part 1 of the series.

http://michellemalkin.com/2013/01/23/rotten-to-the-core-obamas-war-on-academic-standards-part-1/

Now, I will preface this with a warning: Michelle Malkin is oftentimes quite partisan.  She makes her living as a political pundit and blogger.  But this issue did not come about on the shoulders of Democrats or Republicans alone.  These standards are part of a much broader movement by the Progressives in both parties, and every American should be outraged, no matter their personal political ideology. 

There is a serious progressive political agenda behind the standards. Their stated goal is to prepare student for the workforce. But, at what cost? Classic literature is being replaced...by government documents, that would be something along the lines of reading a publication by the department of Housing and Urban development. Seriously. Who needs Romeo and Juliet? Huck Finn? Atticus Finch? The thing is, you know...there is a certain "shared culture" that we have in the West...a set of knowledge that means when I say "Romeo and Juliet", certain images come to mind: A balcony...star crossed lovers..."Oh, Romeo, Oh Romeo, wherefore art Thou, Romeo?" But under CCSS, this would no longer be considered important. Instead, the ideal would be that say, mentioning "HUD publication 2674" (I'm just making that title up) would evoke that same sort of shared knowledge. Really? THAT'S what we care about?

CCSS radically changes the focus of Mathematics. It's more important now that children understand the PROCESS than that they get the right answer. And the thing is...they're using totally new and unnecessarily confusing processes to get to the answer. It's actually quite ridiculous, as you can see in the short video demonstration below,but they rely a lot on calculators to actually get correct answers...rather than teaching kids arithmetic. Sort of the same as arguing that it's no longer necessary to teach kids to spell, since computers have spell check.  This is just ONE example of  Math the Common Core way.   You an find many more examples by searching for "everyday math" on YouTube.




Good luck as a parent trying to help your kid understand. And if your fifth grader would prefer to find the answer by the quicker and much more straightforward method of long division? Well, they would be marked WRONG. Even if they get the correct answer..if they can't do the gobbledygook CCSS method, then they will be wrong.

Now mind you, if they figure the problem using the CCSS method, and come up with the incorrect answer....they would still be counted as CORRECT as long as their methodology was CCSS approved.

Seriously.

The math standards began being implemented in 2012. I saw this in the school where I was working last year.
  
The Common Core teaches to the lowest common denominator, and gives classroom teachers no discretion as to how to adapt the concepts to best meet the needs of their students. Teachers are once again, forced to "teach to the test", and students with special gifts, interests or talents will be left twiddling their thumbs. Reimbursement for schools is directly tied to the measures of their performance with CCSS, so, as we know...where the money is will become the priority. What will happen to the arts? Literature? Poetry? And, is it fair to kids who are already struggling in under-performing schools (read: KCMO public schools) to have even *more* weight placed on standardized testing and unproven teaching methods.


The CCSS leaves very little wiggle room for the individual district, school, or classroom teacher. Common Core standards are very deliberate in their desire to present revisionist history, to undermine parental authority in the home (the parent is deliberately presented as the antagonist throughout aligned curricula), and children are exposed to and indoctrinated by ideas from the earliest ages. (ie: mandatory sex ed starting in KINDERGARTEN) Many experts agree that the expectations in the CCSS are developmentally and emotionally inappropriate for young children.

 David Coleman, the man who was the head of the development of the CCSS--the architect of the standards-- is now sitting as the CEO of The College Board (funded by Bill Gates). Those are the guys who write and develop the SAT...and you guessed it. The SAT is already being rewritten to the CCSS standards. So those children whose parents choose to homeschool, or choose private school, or who choose to try and opt their public school kid out of Common Core (yes, I guess you're supposed to be able to do this...but I can't see how it can work practically) will be facing a serious disadvantage when it comes to college admissions, even if they are brighter and better prepared for actual University level study. And yes, the ACT is also re-writing as we speak.

 And finally, and perhaps most concerning of all, tied directly into CCSS is a HUGE, and I mean HHHHHHHHHUUUUUUGGGGGGGGEEEEEE amount of data mining. They will be keeping VERY detailed files on every student...including "biometric identifiers" (look that up if you want to be scared out of your wits)  Again, Michelle Malkin lays it out better than anyone I've seen: http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/343040/common-core-trojan-horse-michelle-malkin 

Victoria Jackson makes an interesting case here about the very serious concerns to our very existence as a Republic, and the very sinister nature of government data mining.

And finally, whether you love Glenn Beck, or you hate him, you owe it to your children to watch this video, in which Glenn lays out in great detail the plans for data mining and biometric tracking of your children.  Did you know they plan to keep files including information such as religion, voting status, family income, blood type, hair color, birth weight, extracurricular activities, homework completion, and hundreds more "data points" on each and every child?  And further, did you know that the CCSS allows the school to SHARE this information with just about anyone they deem fit...WITHOUT parental consent??  Watch, as Glenn shows in the video below the exact wording from the government documents themselves.  Grab a cup of coffee..this is long, but vitally important!









So, what's a parent to do?

If you choose to leave your children in public school, here is the opt-out form that you can submit to your child's school for their permanent file. Even though we homeschool, I am actually printing this out and keeping it in my own files for my kids here at home. Just in case we need it at some point in the future to defend ourselves...God forbid.

http://truthinamericaneducation.com/uncategorized/ccss-parent-opt-out-form/



Get involved!  Check out The Educational Freedom Coalition on facebook.  Write your senators and representatives.  Voice your concerns to your school board, your principal, and your child's teachers.  Pay attention to what's being taught in your child's classroom, and discuss with them openly any concerns you have about materials that are opposed to your family values and beliefs.
  


If you can...consider homeschool.  You are already equipped with everything that you need to teach your children.  Rules and regulations for homeschooling vary from state to state.  Learn and comply with the laws in your state.  If you want more information on how to get started, feel free to contact me!Anyone who is looking with open eyes can see that this is a massive overhaul with very specific purposes. And the worst of it is this: THERE ARE A LOT OF REALLY GREAT TEACHERS OUT THERE IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. Many of you are my personal friends.

Please, teacher friends..hear me on this.

I know there are a LOT of you who really love teaching, and who go above and beyond every day to make learning exciting for your students.   God Bless You for that. I pray that you will be strengthened and encouraged...If what you're seeing in the new standards isn't sitting right with you...If you are afraid to speak up to your administration or even to your fellow teachers...YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

There are millions of parents, fellow educators, and concerned citizens out here who are worried about the shackles being placed around your feet by this terrible program! Stand up! Speak out! And carry on! We're with you! And we're counting on you!

A Note to All the Single Ladies

Romance.

It's such a wonderful idea, isn't it?  Just the mention of the word, and well, I know exactly what you're thinking.

A dozen roses.

Maybe some chocolates?


A candlelit bathtub, and rose petals on the bed?

Maybe even your own version of one of these guys?

or, for those ladies of the 80's like myself...maybe it's this guy?

Well...let me just state the obvious.  Hollywood is lying to you.  All of that "I'm-desperate-for-you, can't-live-without-you" stuff is nothing but overblown infatuation and lust. 

Seriously.

Do you know what love looks like?

This:

Yes.  True Love works 50+ hours every week so that his wife can homeschool his children.  Love delights in his children's laughter, and celebrates their success.  Love brings home sugary junk-food treats that Mom never would buy for her kids.  Love is that man, who day in, day out, continues on in the life you've built together, remaining faithful to the promises he made to you in those early days of the relationship.

Love makes an emergency run to CVS for cold remedies when his mother in law is ill..

And like tonight, Love comes home late from work after being stuck in traffic for over an hour, to find his wife teary eyed from a stressful day, exhausted and getting sick  with  the same sickness her mother had earlier in the week, and gallantly offers to walk the dog, pulls the children aside to discuss the happenings of the day, orders pizza, and declares it a "family movie night", so that his wife will not have to cook dinner.

That, my friends, is a MAN.  

The enemy would love to come and steal my joy...would love to see me get caught up in comparison to the Hollywood "ideal"...or even in comparison to my friends' relationships...but let me be clear.  Single girls, if you find a man like this...marry him!

⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
⁸ Love never fails.

 
1 Corinthians 13:4-8

 

I am one very blessed woman, and I love you, Babe.  Always and forever.

Palm Sunday! Hosanna Parade!

Thanks to Winter Storm Virgil, we found our church closed, and most of Kansas City snowed in this morning. So...we decided to have our own "Hosanna Parade"!  First, I had each kid relate to me what they know about the Palm Sunday story, filling in any gaps as needed.  (No, Eoin...Jesus didn't ride a camel into Egypt!)  I was pleasantly surprised at what they already knew! 

We then made these cute, totally easy and adorable "palm leaves" that I found on Pinterest:

I didn't have any popsicle sticks, though, so we just glued the hand prints together to make palm leaves. The kids and I then read the story from their Read and Share Bible, and then paraded through every room in the house, waving their palm leaves, shaking their egg shakers made from plastic Easter eggs filled with jelly beans, while the kids shouted "Hosanna!  Bless the King of Peace!"  I'm not even sure where that spontaneous praise came from...but we went with it!

The upside of being snowed in?  Lots of quality family time....and I am ahead of the game, for once.  I already have 24 plastic eggs filled and bagged, and "Bunny Bait" made for their party at preschool on Tuesday.   The kids had a great time helping me make a double recipe of the Bunny Bait.

Bunny Bait

Mix together:
popcorn
mini pretzels
Easter colored m&m's

Melt 1 bag of vanilla-flavored or white chocolate chips

Pour over popcorn mixture and stir to coat.

Spread out on cookie sheet to cool, and add sprinkles!

Allow to cool and break into pieces.


yummmmmmmm...

 

Just look away...

I took my kids swimming this weekend.

Yes, it's currently weather best suited for polar bears outside, but my city was having a free event at the indoor pool, and we were in desperate need of a fun day filled with lots of activity.

I wasn't prepared for what happened.

My son, Eoin, is 5 1/2 years old.  And I realized too late that he is suddenly developing a sense of modesty, especially around the opposite sex.  Well, we had already had a busy morning filled with Easter egg hunts and strawberry pie making, and I brought our swim gear along so we could change in the locker room.  Unfortunately, my husband wasn't with us, so I had to take Eoin into the women's locker room with me.

It wasn't really a big deal when we arrived, because the locker room was empty, except for another mom who was changing a baby's diaper, so I was able to help Eoin get changed in a quick and discreet manner.  The problem arose when it was time for us to leave, as the locker room was full of people--moms and daughters, mostly--who needed to change into street clothes.  All at the same time.

I quickly ushered Eoin into one of the shower stalls, so that he could have some privacy while he got dressed.  I kind of put my hand over his eyes and told him to just look down at the floor, so that he wouldn't be seeing anyone who was changing.  And you know what?

He totally got it!

He and I were able to have a great conversation about how, as a young man, it's his responsibility to give girls respect, and to protect and guard his own heart and mind by just averting his eyes. 

I noticed a little later, as we were preparing to leave, another group of young girls came into the locker room.  They were all about 8-10 years old, and wearing the skimpiest of skimpy bikinis. He immediately dropped his gaze to the floor and kept it there until they left.  He said, "mom, at least they are wearing *something*...but I still think they're almost naked.  That doesn't seem right."

You're right, son.  It doesn't.

As a mom of a daughter, I'm pretty disgusted by our society's incessant need to sexualize our little girls earlier and earlier.  I am horrified to think that the world will try to convince her that all that she has to offer of any value lies between her legs, and not between her ears.  Even at 3 years old, I refuse to dress Reagan in anything that is too suggestive.  And every single day, I not only tell her that she is beautiful...but that she is Smart.  And Funny.  And Kind.  And Generous.  And Loved.  And Amazing.

But, as a mom of a son, I now see the issue from a new perspective.  As a society, we should be absolutely ashamed of what we are doing to little boys. Whether they are 5 or 25, boys are slammed all day--every day--with images and messages that seek to declare war on their flesh.

These not-so-subtle tactics of the enemy serve only one real purpose.  He strives to steal from them the precious knowledge of who they were created to be, replacing their joy and peace with shame and heartbreak.

What intentional tactics have you, as a parent, taken to guard your own children's hearts?

Hi.

stay tuned...I've decided that I'm coming back. 



Soon.  :)

 

Survivor guilt

Tonight, I was out at a restaurant with my mom and my two overly-tired and very crabby children. As I was hustling to get everyone's plate of food prepared, cut up, cooled off, and ready-to-eat, I saw it. The lady dining with her husband at the table next to us was staring right at us, and I saw it. You know the look? THAT look? In her eyes I saw what I quickly dismissed as annoyance. But as we sat there, I noticed again and again that she was looking at my kids with....longing.

This woman was older than I am. I'd guess late 40's. Anyway, she was obviously past her child bearing years. And as I watched her, watching them...my heart was breaking for her. She never said a word to us. She never once cracked a smile at their adorableness. She stopped talking to her husband, and a dark cloud of silence settled over their table.

I wanted to say something...anything. I wanted to scream as loudly as I could, "I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL! I'M ONE OF YOU!" But, I guess I'm not. I'm no longer part of the sad and silent sisterhood of Infertiles. I've now become one of those busy and distracted moms who I used to look at in just the same way.

I am so thankful and overjoyed, every day, at what God has done in healing me and giving me these two beautiful children! But not a day goes by that I don't remember the pain we experienced on the journey. I still miss the baby we lost, and although the tears have stopped flowing, I think of her all the time. I remember peeing on stick after stick, praying that I would see TWO pink lines, and I remember the pain and heartbreak of month after month, year after year, facing disappointment once again.

I marvel sometimes how the mere act of waiting so long to become a mother changed me forever. It left my heart with gaping wounds and thick, ugly scars that only the grace of God and the sweet kisses of my babies could heal. Even on their worst day, those precious children are like a salve to my very soul. I never knew love could be like this. So fierce and so intense...it's almost terrifying.

But oh, it was so worth the wait.

Hi, I've missed you!

How is it possible that, despite best intentions, we turn our attention from something for what seems just a moment, and suddenly it's been nearly two months since my last blog post??

Well. Things have been pretty busy here. We spent a good part of January battling a nasty upper respiratory infection that snaked its way through our house and left both kids with double ear infections. With this, we discovered that Reagan had a reaction to the amoxicillin...so we're going to be pursuing some allergy testing for her in the near future to be sure.

Anthony's parents and brothers came into town at the beginning of February, and spent 3 weeks with us. It was so great for them to finally get a chance to meet Reagan, and to spend some more time with Eoin. Needless to say, he's really changed a lot since the last time they saw him--he was 13 months old then! They just left Kansas City on Wednesday, and we're slowly adjusting and getting the kids used to being home alone (and bored!) with just Mommy and Daddy.

Eoin is talking up a storm these days, and as a matter of fact, never stops talking from the moment he wakes in the morning, until the moment he drifts off to sleep at night. He loves to give the play by play for every. single. thing. he does during the day...it's hysterical! Maddening, but hysterical. LOL I swear the kid definitely has the gift of gab!

Reagan is 9 1/2 months now, and is trying her hardest to learn to walk. She has a baby walker that she uses to go EVERYWHERE now, and she is *this* close to taking off on her own! She did take two steps a couple of days ago, but I didn't get a chance to see it. She was standing at the raised fireplace hearth playing, and she turned around, took two steps and then fell. My Mother In Law was privileged enough to see it firsthand, though, and was thrilled! :)

We're still dying in the middle of winter here in KC, and can't wait for the spring thaw! Puxatawnie Phil promised us it was right around the corner...right?

1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
I became a mommy to a perfect little girl.

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Nope. And yeah, I probably will...even though I never keep them.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yeah! I gave birth to Reagan, my cousin gave birth to Austin, another cousin's wife gave birth to Hudson, and another cousin gave birth to Drew.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes, my Grandma and my Uncle Bill.

5. What countries did you visit?
This year, I stayed home with my babies, and never even got out of Kansas City. We sent Anthony back home to Ireland for a visit all by himself.

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
More financial security, a cleaner house (and a maid LOL), and more patience with my kids.

7. What date from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Easy. May 15, 2009...Reagan Elisabeth Siobhan Breen was born! :)

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Learning to juggle the demands of having two little ones who need so much of my time and attention, while still giving each of them the one-on-one time that they need.

9. What was your biggest failure?
I can't keep on top of housework and laundry to save my life.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No, although the last trimester of my pregnancy was pretty rough. And of course, I had a C-Section.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
All things pink! Shopping for little girl clothes makes me very, very happy!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Eoin! He has demonstrated such kindness and love toward his new little sister, and has handled the transition from being an only child to being a big brother with such grace! I'm so proud of him!

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Our Congressmen and Senators.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage, diapers, food, gas, utilities...I don't know, but it seems to just slip through our fingers these days.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
January 2, 2009....the day we found out we were having a little GIRL!

16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
Twinkle twinkle little star...it's by far Reagan's favorite!

17.Compared to this time last year, are you:
a. happier or sadder? happier
b. thinner or fatter? thinner, I'm not pregnant! LOL
c. richer or poorer? poorer, but it's totally worth it!

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
working out. organizing. keeping in touch with my friends. praying for my husband and kids.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
arguing over stupid stuff and worrying about things I can't control

20. How did you spend Christmas?
We were snowed in with a blizzard, so we spent the entire day at home...Anthony, Eoin, Reagan, my mom and I...it was so nice. We opened gifts in the morning, then had some snacks and appetizers, followed later by an impromptu Christmas dinner with all the trimmings. I even learned how to make a proper Irish Roasted Potato.

21. Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?
Anthony :X

22. Did you fall in love in 2009?
Yes...with Reagan! And my love for Anthony and Eoin continues to grow deeper with each passing year. Adding to our family only increased my love for all of them.

23. How many one-night stands?
Sorry, there's only one man for me. And he's married. To me.

24. What was your favorite TV program?
Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy, American Idol, and Gavin and Stacey

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
nope

26. What was the best book you read?
"The Next Thing on My List" by Jill Smolinski

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Jack's Big Music Show?

28. What did you want and get?
a Sonicare toothbrush!

29. What did you want and not get?
paid maternity leave, and a size 6 figure.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Julie and Julia

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 39, and I was 38 weeks pregnant. I was contracting every 5 minutes, so I got all excited. Mom, Anthony, Eoin and I went out to eat dinner at Chili's...for one last hurrah before I went in to the hospital. But alas...as I sat there eating dinner, the contractions stopped, and my dreams of a shared birthday with my daughter were dashed.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
If our money situation hadn't been so tight.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
Stretched out, faded maternity clothes and other assorted clothes that don't fit right anymore.

34. What kept you sane?
My girlfriends. I have some very great friends who I know are praying for me, lifting me up, and holding me accountable.

35. What political issue stirred you the most?
"bail outs" and healthcare reform; the devaluing of the dollar

36. Who did you miss?
my dad...every day.

37. Who was the best new person you met?
Reagan, obviously.

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010:
I'm not always right, even when I think I am.

39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"I'm so tired, I haven't slept a wink
I'm so tired, my mind is on the blink"--The Beatles

Going MIA

I am having some ongoing problems with this laptop, and the warranty expires TOMORROW...so I have to send it in to Gateway to be repaired. I'm so sad. I'll be without a computer for 7-10 business days, so they say. I'll still be able to check in from my cellphone, but you won't see me posting much if at all, because it's really really hard to post from there. I might try to get on from my mom's when i can, but that might be spotty at best.

Happy New Year...I'll see ya in 2010.

Mushroom Risotto...it's what's for dinner!

In my vain attempt to be inspired by The Pioneer Woman, here's my silly little step by step chronicle honoring the beautiful magic that is risotto! If you've never made risotto, you are really missing out. It can be a little daunting at first, and requires the utmost in patience and preparation time...but the creamy delicious goodness is *so* worth the effort.



Two onions. Dice 'em and cook until they start to brown. Add a clove of garlic and continue to sautee.





You don't want to add the garlic until your onions are mostly browned...garlic burns very easily, and burned garlic gets no love.





Throw in some finely chopped celery. My recipe calls for 1 TBS. Obviously, I think that is merely a suggestion. On a side note, if you are cooking with celery, always include the leafy parts. Lots of flavor and pretty color in those tender little shoots.





Mushrooms! I used sliced baby bellas last night...yummmmmm!





Cook them 'til they're all brown and delicious like this, and then...





...add some white wine to de-glaze the pan! This step gives a very satisfying SIZZLE!





Pour in some evaporated milk. Or you can use heavy cream or half-and-half if you're so inclined. I never have cream or half-and-half on hand because it spoils before I can use up a container...but I always keep evaporated milk in my cupboard and it works GREAT in place of milk in recipes that need a heavy, creamy sauce.





The star of the show. One cup of Aborio rice. This is very important...if you're making risotto, you MUST use Aborio rice. It's different than any other type of regular rice. It cooks very slowly, and as it cooks, it gives off this amazing starchiness that makes risotto, well...risotto.





Vegetable broth. Unbelievably, you will stir in somewhere between 4 and 5 cups of the stuff during the next 45 minutes or so!





Go ahead. Stir in just a little bit. I add it by about 1/2 cup at a time. Stir it in, and let it simmer on medium low, stirring often. This is really the key....stir often. The stirring is what helps to break down the Aborio rice.





At this point, you might want to pull up a stool, pour yourself some eggnog, and watch "Gavin and Stacey" on your laptop. Or maybe that's just me. More industrious women might take this opportunity to clean up their kitchens. Not me. I boldly left that mess for this morning. :)







Keep on adding broth, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring until it's pretty much absorbed before you add more broth.





Can you see it? Here's the magic! The rice is really starting to get creamy now!



Add in some parmesan cheese and a couple tablespoons of real butter--somehow I forgot to take a picture of this step--and stir it all around, trying not to drool directly into the pan.





The finished product! Oh my! I would have put it in a pretty serving dish for your viewing pleasure, but I have to put it back on the stovetop this afternoon and warm it all up for our family Christmas dinner. If you give me a call early enough, maybe we'll save you some. ;)




Of course, I can not cook, write or take photographs like the pioneer woman...that is why she is jaunting across the country on a fabulous book tour, and I'm sitting on my couch in my jammies while my two little ones play at my feet. It's a welcome trade.

Zephaniah 3:17

"The LORD your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing."--Zephaniah 3:17

I was thinking tonight about how much I have learned about the nature and character of God since I became a mom. So many times since I have had children, the Lord has spoken a soft word to me about His love during the day-to-day stuff of being a parent. Tonight, I was lying in bed with Eoin, as I was putting him down to sleep, and I was holding him in my arms and singing songs to him, as we do every single night, when the Lord reminded me of this scripture.

I started thinking about singing, and what it means. I was struck by the fact that every mom sings to her babies. It's one of the most intimate and tender things that we can do. It comforts my children to hear my voice; it helps them to relax and drift off to sleep, knowing that everything is OK, and Momma is right here with them. Sometimes I sing songs to them to teach them things that I want them to know. Sometimes our songs are full of laughter and dancing. Other times, I sing songs that I have made up just for them. Still other times, the singing is just more of a contented hum...an outward expression of tenderness and love between mother and child.

How touching to think that, as much as I love my children, the Lord loves me even more. He sings over me! He takes delight in me! Imagine that. The way that I delight in my own children--the way I speak of them with bursting pride--He feels even more towards me. It's not because of anything I've done to earn it. There's nothing I could ever do to change it. He just loves me because I'm his child.

It's a thought so simple, yet so profound.

Thank you, Lord, for showing me just how much you love me. Thank you for your plan for setting us in families and making us into parents, so that we can understand you just a little more.