Homesick for My Kitchen

     I really miss my kitchen. I miss the way it smells, looks, and makes me feel. My family has been so busy with harvest, working ground, and hay season that I haven't had much time for my favorite thing: cooking. This is probably why I have lost all my baby weight plus an additional 3lbs! Kudos for this accomplishment! But truth be told, if I had time to make homemade pumpkin pancakes slathered with real butter and maple syrup, I would gladly pack those 3lbs back on! Alas, due to heat and time homemade anything isn't happin' much around here. However, during my "dairy" sessions I get 15 full minutes all to myself and I spend them on the computer working on my cookbook. I ran across some recipes that I love. Love. Love. Love! One in particular is Cube Steak Parmesan. I mean look at this baby, isn't she beautiful?! Such a hardy meal too. You have your cube steak breaded with one of my favorite ingredients, Panko, lots of glorious cheese, homemade spaghetti sauce, and pasta.

Cube Steak Parmesan

Last time we had this meal, Alli made Mascarpone stuffed strawberries to go with it.  Anytime you can add Mascarpone cheese to fruit you have a winner, at least in my opinion. Allison is proudly showing off the strawberries that she stuffed herself. Isn't she too cute?!

Proud Chef

She's my chef in training. At 4 years old she can make her own sandwiches, cupcakes from a cake mix (I do the oven part), fruit salads, and is a big help doing numerous other jobs. She's so eager to learn that she's wearing out all of our butter knifes (and using all the cheese) practicing her cutting skills. I'm amazed how much math she's learning too. She can measure ingredients to the 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 and 1 cup by herself! I think the Bernstein Bear cooking game she plays on PBS Kids helped with this too. I'm thrilled that she shares my love for the kitchen. I have a feeling that as she gets older, we'll make the perfect team. I love to cook but not so much bake, while Alli seems to prefer baking recipes to cooking. I look forward to the great memories we're going to create from our time together in our kitchen.

Balance

I feel like it's been forever since my last blog. Oh wait, I just spotted the last blog entry date and realized it has been forever. When I reflect back on what all I've done I realize that I need to learn the art of balance. I feel like my time is spent doing one of two things: taking care of family or working. Lately, I've been a tad edgy and overwhelmed. Who would have thought one extra person, especially a tiny little person, could create so much extra work? Reid's lucky that I'm in love with him, otherwise we might have had a problem. ;) But really, this has been an interesting year. I've learned so many things including how to change out the o-rings in the bathroom sink, take apart the freezer to clean out the condenser and fan, and  drill holes in wood planks in order to mount a new mailbox that was maimed by a local farmer. Most importantly I've learned how to enjoy my time with my kids at home or wherever we may be. This is a huge feat because I'm not the stay-at-home type. Since I accomplished all of these things, I'm going to challenge myself with the whole balance thing. I need this. It's July and I haven't spent any quality time with my friends since baby #2 came along. I have no idea where the time went but I'm taking what time I have left back so that I can enjoy some me time over the summer vacation. Now that I've actually put that thought into words I feel a bit anxious because this means having to leave Reid behind. I know that it's important for both of us to have some time apart but at the same time, he's my baby!! He's the last baby I'll ever have, hold, cuddle/sleep in the chair with, stare at for hours...see where I'm going with this? I've become that kid who needs to leave the nest and won't, only worse in real-life I'm the mom who won't leave her kid. Balance. If I can attain this I may actually have a chance at "getting a life" and maybe one day Reid or Alli won't have to tell me to get one!!

Hanging Out

Alli simply adores her brother Reid. She kisses him constantly, tells him he's her bestfriend, soothes him when he cries, and showers him in love. He adores her just as much. I can tell by how he looks for her when he hears her voice and how he smiles when she kisses on him. Here are some random pics of the two together.

Reid's Baptism

On Sunday, May 15, 2011 we had our little boy baptized at Newkirk United Methodist Church. Jason, Allison, and I along with Grandma Irwin, Aunt Sharon, Greg, Stacie, Brenda, and Dennis were all able to witness it happen. Greg and Stacie Fox stood up with us during the baptism as Reid's God-Parents. He did so well. He never cried and in fact he yawned when Rev. Jim Hollifield sprinkled the Holy water on his forehead! We were so excited and proud of him! Afterwards, most of our family was able to stick around and have brunch at Stage Coach Cafe in Newkirk. It was a very special day that we ended by reminiscing over Alli's baptism pictures. I can't help but feel so much adoration, love, and pride for my family. We've been truly blessed.

Rachel, Allison, Jason, and Reid with Godparents Stacie and Greg Fox

Allison, Rachel, Jason, Reid, & Grandma Irwin

Rachel, Reid, Aunt Sharon, Allison, & Jason at Stage Coach Cafe

Gone Fishing

     Sunday deemed a beautiful sunny day. We started the day with Reid's baptism, then had a celebratory breakfast at Stagecoach Bar-b-que, and ended it with fishing. I'll unfold the events of the baptism in another post and move right on to the fishing for this one! We decided to fish a pond on some family land that was full of catfish. Because it was so windy and slightly chilled, Reid stayed in the pickup. Don't feel sorry for him though because he was snug as a bug in his bundle me blanket and car seat. The little stinker slept the entire time to boot!
Jason and I just knew that no fish would be caught today because it was so windy and the water had mini waves on it. But we had promised Alli and a promise is a promise so away we went.
     First, we had to make a quick stop at Wal-Mart for some worms. When we got to the pond Alli dumped all the worms in her little sand bucket. Apparently she didn't know what to expect because when the slimy little creatures fell out she took off running and screaming! Needless to say, Jason baited her hook without any of her help! After casting her line, Alli quickly was reeling in her first catfish! It happened so fast that Jason hadn't finished baiting his own line. The fish was pretty good sized too, maybe 2lbs. There was a little wait time between catching the rest of the fish though. For most of the time Alli repeatedly asked, "Is mine under yet" (referring to her bobber). In which Jason would say no, not yet honey. This occurred roughly every minute and a half! My favorite question of the day was, "Daddy, what kind of worm is that?" Jason, "Well, if a fish would eat it, a dead worm." Alli, "Oh, yeah! A dead worm."
     There were times during the fishing that Jason and Alli were able to really reconnect. I loved seeing them laughing together and getting excited about a fish biting a line. Mostly I enjoyed just watching Jason hold Alli. They have such a special father/daughter bond and I am so thankful for that. Here are some visuals to compliment their little adventure. A total of 6 catfish were caught this day: each scoring 3 apiece!

   

Walking Away from Drama

This week has been a roller coaster week that has my husband and I clinging to each other. It’s been so crazy that we even had what we like to call “European thoughts.” This happens when you watch House Hunters International and see the Europeans moving to other countries just for something new! I could go for some Argentina, Quebec, or more USA locally Alaska right now. Instead though, I’m passing the time living vivaciously on facebook and blogging. Recently a friend of mine posted a great quote on her facebook wall that reads,

“An old man once said ...There comes a time in life, when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it. You surround yourself with people who make you laugh, forget the bad, and focus on the good. So love the people who treat you right, pray for the ones who don't. Life is too short to be anything but happy. Falling down is a part of life, getting back up is living.”

After reading this I felt enlightened, happy, and relieved that my give a crap meter finally has run out! So today, I am walking away from the drama that a few people have tried to surround me with and am choosing to focus on the people who bring me happiness: my husband who loves me unconditionally and stands up for me no matter what, my daughter who has been a constant source of joy and laughter and my son who amazes me everyday and strongly binds my family in love. Also, my friends who are accepting people, refreshingly honest, and above all else give it to me straight up. I’m so fortunate to have such a vast network of friends to lean on so that in times like this I can look at my life and know that I have it good!

The Good Life

It's amazing how families adjust to new life. Jason and I were truly lucky with Allison because she slept all night long from day 1. Reid however does not and needless to say reality has kicked in! He eats every 3 hours on the dot: midnight, 3, and 6 are the times we get up at night. Jason is a Godsend and is so wonderful to change his diaper and feed him at these times while I pump. I have to pump so often, every 2-3 hours, in addition to breastfeeding that we've even dubbed the office my "milk parlor." Needless to say, I have become more empathetic to Holstein cows! The first time Alli saw me feed Reid naturally, she got these huge eyes and then started giggling like crazy. Finally she said, "Momma, Reid's like the baby calves, he gets milk all over when sucks on your udders." I tried to correct her but she informed me that if milk comes from them they have to be udders. Another mystifying wonder is my appetite. I can't get over how much I eat! This nursing appetite is all new to me, never was experienced with Alli. I'm eating constantly and drinking TONS of water. If I try not to eat every few hours, I get angry. It's almost comical because Jason has started handing me food every time I get an attitude and it's my little miracle cure. After eating I'm all better again! Wow. My life is taking amazing turns right now!
     At church last Sunday, several women commented to Jason how proud they were of him because during service he got up with the diaper bag and took Reid to go get a diaper change. This really got me to thinking just how lucky I am to have a spouse that is such an active father. I can't imagine feeling solely responsible for raising my children. Jason and I walk the path of child rearing step-for-step together. I love how life gently reminds us when we have it good. My family definitely makes life good!