How did this get here?

We had one of our rare grocery shopping trips as a whole family the other night.  We weren't getting much so I figured it wouldn't be a big deal.  It wasn't.  And I actually enjoyed it! 

But as we got home and started to put away groceries we realized there were a few mysterious purchases.

One a box of Apple Jacks cereal...one of Caleb's favorites.

The other a box of Snack Wells chocolate chocolate granola bars.  Something I didn't even know existed! 

Well you can guess who the culprit was!  Caleb!  We asked him if he put those things in the cart, and he said, "ha, yes!"  With his perfect Caleb expression!

And the best part...i was trying to cut out processed foods.  So we were deliberately making healthy choices, and not buying anything processed.  He didn't get that memo!  Love that kid!

Thursday Thoughts

Fall has arrived!  Don't you love it?  It was so nice this morning putting on some jeans, a cardigan, some new shoes, and a COAT!  The crispness in the air is invigorating.  My husband even took us out to breakfast this morning!  


My oldest son has always loved clothes.  It a weird obsession really.  However he joyfully put on some "new to him" clothes this morning.  Ten minutes later...I want hot weather.  That didn't last long.


I have been in a battle recently with the middle child.  He can be so strong willed.  He has the craziest ability to make me second guess everything.  What is that?  I am the Mother after all.  We've somewhat successfully potty trained him.  He wears underwear at all times except bed.  However, he will only go when I ask him.  He has a strong willed bladder too it seems, as he will hold it ALL.DAY.LONG.   So it is a battle every time he goes.  He wants me to help him, and he doesn't need it.  And he won't go number 2 in the potty.  He has figured out that he can just wait until the pull-up at nap and bedtime.  So frustrating!  We had a stand off yesterday that last ALL DAY.  I prevailed and he finally pooped in the potty!  I won.  Now I am bound and determined to turn this ship around.


Recently, Homeschooling my children has not been my favorite.  Don't get me wrong, I know that we are supposed to do it this year.  The kids enjoy it, and for the most part, we like it.  I've just been discouraged with it and sometimes I want to put all three on the big yellow school bus as it drives by our house.  Haha, I'm just kidding...actually I don't really know if I am.  Anyway, Ed snuck out of the house with Micah one morning and came home with these.  And a little note from Micah.

Made taco soup last night.  We love anything mexican around here, but this is one of our favorites.  Its a mexican twist on chili.  We eat it with tortilla chips, but it is also good with the traditional cornbread.  


Here's the recipe in case it is new to you...


Taco Soup


1 lb ground beef or turkey
1 can kidney beans (drained)
1 can black beans (drained and rinsed)
1 can whole corn (drained)
1 can petite diced tomatoes (undrained)
2 cans tomato sauce (16oz)
2 pkg taco seasoning
2 pkg ranch dressing mix
2 cans green chilies (4oz)
1 1/2 cups of water
onion powder


1.  Cook ground meat with onion powder, drain.
2.  Mix meat and all other ingredients in large pot.  Simmer 30 min.
3.  Serve with tortilla chips or cornbread.  Top with shredded cheddar, sour cream, and whatever other mexican toppings you like.  Enjoy!


Happy fall!

Quotable Kids

This what occurred while Caleb and I sat at the table during lunch...


I was talking about who knows what.


Caleb: DDDDDUUUUUUUUUHHHHHHHHHH!!! (really sarcastic and annoying)


Me:  Caleb, don't say "duh!  That's rude.


Caleb:  I have to say "Duh".  "Duh" is AWESOME!


Where does he come up with these things?!  And what do you say to that?!

Quotable Kids

Caleb Edition:


7:30AM - kids in room, Ed and I downstairs reading


Caleb:  MOMMMMAAA!!!


Me: Yes, Caleb.


Caleb:  with Caleb enthusiasm aka shouting - I'm growing up!


Me: Yes I know!


Caleb:  I'm growing big like Daddy!!


Apparently my boy grew overnight, and he could tell the difference!

Easter Fun

This Easter was probably my favorite yet.  We really enjoyed going through our family devotional preparing for Easter, and the kids LOVED the accompanying songs!  Micah really had a lot of questions this year for us to answer.  Caleb even grasped the simple thought that Easter is when Jesus died on the cross and rose on the third day.  And sweet Haleigh, well, she just shook her hips to the songs, as she always does.  She loved dancing!

We also had an Easter Egg Hunt with our small group, and a quiet lunch after church with Ed's brother.  Here are some of my favorite pics...
And notice...no family picture and no pics of Micah...he was there I promise!

 

A Little Post I'd like to Call "Pants on the Ground"

It seems my very independent wildly imaginative little toddler is going through a stage.  There are lots of stages kids go through, though it seems this little one is giving me a lot of material to work with.  

This pictures are taken from my point of view.  This is what I find lying around most days.

And then I find him, usually looking something like this.  I mean don't toddler's fashion sense crack you up!

And this one is just a bonus donning my sunglasses and kicking back!

 

 

New Things

I guess by the look of this face, I should've known Caleb would be my picky eater.  This is a picture of his first food, after cereal, which was carrots.  His face was priceless and we all laughed.  Well two years later, he is still making faces and rejecting most foods.  Now, I realize that there are many kids out there worse than he, but it has really been a battle for us. 

His food of choice...carbs!  Crackers, bread, toast, waffles, pizza, spaghetti.  He also loves fruit, cheese, chicken nuggets (not any kind of chicken), and that's about it!  Forget veggies, mac and cheese,  eggs, any other meat, rice, potatoes, anything foreign.  I think the thing that bugged me the most was the doctor and other "experts" said keep offering a variety and he will like something.  But he wouldn't even try things!  And that got under my skin! 

Anyway, now at almost three, Caleb decided that he wants to start trying things!  He had mac and cheese the other day and he loved it!  He tried pineapple and loved it!  He had a little bit of Daddy's grilled chicken last nice, and, oh, decided to try couscous...and like it!  This is one happy mommy!  Its baby steps we are taking - no green bean was touched last night - but I am happy.  And you know what, so is my boy!  He isn't stressed when he comes to the dinner table, he's happy!  

Wordless Wednesday - Meow!

It's So Hard to Say Goodbye...

A little more on the saying goodbye to paci...Caleb thought it was funny at first that his paci was broken. Immediately I had this God-given image of him still keeping his paci in his mouth broken. Yes, he was that attached! Just keeping it in his mouth even though he couldn't suck it. So I thought, let's have a throwing away "ceremony" to say goodbye forever. So we all trekked into the bathroom, our very small bathroom, our only-one-in-the-house-that-all-five-of-us-share-and-its-the-only-room-still-reflecting-the-1978-original-design-of-the-house bathroom. Anyway...I lovingly explained to him that paci was broken and it didn't work anymore. So we needed to throw it away in the trash. I also reminded him that he was a "big boy" now and he didn't need it anymore. So here's the pictures...so sweet! By the way - IGNORE the bathroom, and yes, ew!, the toilet seat is up!

Wordless Wednesday

A Toddler's Amazing Attire...and Camera Face!