Living in Munchkinland

I made this recipe on Tuesday night. It comes out of the Moosewood Restaurant Cooks at Home cookbook. I had it before and loved it, but Michael had wished it had meat in it, so this time I added shredded chicken. It turned out really delicious. I just bought a rotisserie chicken and shredded it and added it in. I also added a bunch of bok choy that came in local produce box. This was a nice addition since it added a slightly different texture and a pretty dark green color. It is suggested that you serve this over some sort of grain like couscous. Below is my recipe, slightly amended from the original. It's different from what you might usually make and taste, but really yummy and also economical. Tunisian Vegetable Chicken Stew (originally from Moosewood Cooks at Home, with changes) * 1 1/2 c. thinly sliced onions * 2 tablespoons olive oil * 3 c. thinly sliced cabbage * 2 c. thinly sliced bok choy * dash of salt * 1 large red bell pepper, cut into th...

Lord help me. We've entered the "why" phase. It is Davis' favorite question to ask now and he asks it after everything. I swore I would never be the parent who said, "Because I said so!", and I've already done it many times. Sigh. In other news, Sammy is saying everything! He all of sudden will repeat everything you say. It's so fun. Of course, in twenty months he'll be in the "why" phase too, and I'll just wish he would stop talking, but in the meantime, it's pretty fun.

I read an awesome blog called CityMama and she always puts what she plans to make each week on her blog. Monday is my menu planning day and as usual I put together this weeks menu and shopping list today. This week I start receiving my Greenling local box and so I made sure that I used almost all of my veggies in my menu. I also intend to start cooking for my grandparents this week and sharing each meal with them. Here's this week menu: Monday- Beef and Black Bean Chili with Avocado Salsa Tuesday- Tunisian Stew with Chicken Wednesday- off night as we are planning to go out Thursday- Black-eyed Pea Stew Friday- Swordfish Kabobs with Sauteed Greens and Roasted Turnips and Onions Saturday- Kona Coffee Steak and Warm Spinach with Balsamic Basil Butter Snacks will include roasted brussel sprouts, roasted chick peas and salads. A special lunch will be Chard and Mushroom Squares. Let me know if you want any of the recipes.

1. He flopped on the couch today and told me with a sigh, "I need to go on vacation.". 2. He thinks that Sally from the Cars movie is Lightning McQueen's mother. 3. He insists loudly and firmly to anyone that I'm his best friend. Love it.

1. Everything is 15 minutes away or less. (This is very odd. I'm very early to everything right now.) 2. There are train tracks everywhere with trains on them and you can't go over or around them. (Davis loves this fact.) 3 You should probably groom a bit before you leave the house since every time you go out you see someone you know, probably someone you haven't seen since high school. (This is especially true if this is the town you grew up in and then fled from when you were eighteen.) 4. There are no waits or big crowds for things. (I put in an application for montessori school for Davis in the fall and it appears there are still openings!)

I put up some new pictures on flikr including pics of the new house. We are mostly moved in. We only have two pictures up and the rest sit in my bathtub, but we're getting there. I have a list a mile long of things to do still, and my garage is still stuffed to the gills, but we'll get it done. Michael left for Dallas last night and so I will try to hold down the fort here this week. I will admit that the house felt a little empty last night without him. I do love the new house though. Yesterday afternoon was beautiful and we walked down our little road to the river. It was so nice. The kids love being outside on our big patio and being able to have so much space to run. I definitely want to get them a swing set out there soon though, since Sam loves to slide so much. The inside of the house feels so good. I feel cozy and warm and love the colors we picked. It feels right and just like a home should. The kids are doing better. They are sleeping well and seem happier...

We're here. It took all day just to load the moving trucks. Yes, trucks. It took two. They finished unloading them after six last night. Today we worked just trying to get the bedrooms ready for the boys. They are not doing well. Davis is so unhappy. He's quit eating and just keeps asking to go home. We're doing great though. Mom and Martha have been amazing and have kept the boys and helped and just been absolute miracles. The house is fantastic and we are so happy to be here, even if we are surrounded by huge box towers. I have not had a moment to do anything yet, but I thought I'd let you all know that we have made the move successfully. Emails are going out ASAP with new phone number and address. Pictures will go up with more updates as soon as I can. Love, A

I had to make a list of the kids routines since my moms are going to be keeping the kids this weekend. Since I made it, I thought I'd post it here. Why not? Not fascinating to most, so skip over if you want. 6:15-6:45AM Kids wake. Change diapers and clothes. 7AM Go downstairs and have milk and watch one hour of cartoons. Noggin or Sesame Street. Davis has 1% milk heated in the microwave for 45 seconds in a sippy. Sam has whole milk mixed with 1/8 Kefir yogurt in a sippy. Change Sam's diaper again. 7:30AM Give Davis plain bread or waffle while he watches cartoons. Sam has bread or waffle with peanut butter or eggs and banana. Davis will usually have some if he sees Sam having some. 8AM Independent Play with Toys 9:30 Second milk/yogurt combo for Sam and snack for both kids. Run Errands or Get out of House option. 11AM Lunch Noon Put kids to bed. Sam is just now transitioning to one nap so he wants to go down at 11, but I usually try to push it. Unless of course I have ...

I'm stressed out and I am hungry. I want Mexican Food. Lots of it. Spicy with refried beans. I also want french fries. And onion rings. Will someone read this and bring over some french fries? And maybe donuts? Mmmmmm. Fried dough. South Beach Diet be damned! I am overwhelmed and stressed out and I am HUNGRY! Can grease be a comfort food???

Today is Super Tuesday. I am so invested in this election. For over a year I had a sticker on my mini-van declaring a wish for an Obama/Clinton '08 election. When both candidates announced their intentions to run I was stunned and excited. I had always preferred Obama, so there was no real dilemma there in choosing my candidate. I believe in him. I think he can make a difference and can lead our country in a better way. I have donated online. I have made phone calls. I have believed in his message. I believe in change. Yes We Can. Barack Obama '08

Panic is slowly rising. I'm getting that tight feeling around my breastbone. We are moving in seven days. This weekend we tried to get lots done and only ended up getting a little bit done. Two small children does not equal getting a lot done. A trip to Ikea was not as fruitful as we hoped. A trip down to San Marcos was not a fruitful as we hoped. But we tried really hard. Now we must move our focus away from the new house and on to our current house. We must pack. I must line up landscaping and housecleaning. I must procure more boxes. I must get everything in this house sorted and packed and ready to for movers. It seems so insurmountable right now. Michael is going to be in Phoenix for the next three days so much of this will be on me. Ugh. The tight feeling is getting worse. I must go make lists. Lists will make me feel better. This will get done.

Here are a few of my favorite things that Davis said today. When asked where babies come from, he paused, thought about it and replied, "Um, from Ikea!!!" When Michael turned on the television to watch the superbowl, Davis asked me if Daddy liked flip ball. I said yes. I asked him what he liked and he replied, "I like Cars Movie! And toys! And pink!" When I put him to bed tonight I asked him if he wanted to draw me a picture tomorrow. "I have to bigger.", he said. "Then I can eat spicy, right, and I can use a knife???" "Yes, son, when you get bigger you can eat spicy and use a knife." "I'm going to get bigger and bigger and stronger and get way up high and then I can touch the moon. I can get bigger and touch the moon, Mommy." "Yes, son, when you get bigger you can touch the moon."