I want to take a minute to say a very big thank you to the following ladies who gave me advice when I was in a funk. Please take the time to visit their sites you will love them 
Again thank you all. You gave me alot to think about and be greatful for. It’s nice to see women helping others when times are low. Good sticking together
It started with her just trying to stand up and then I called to her and she looked up at me and smiled and then she let go of the chair and walked 9 steps to get to me. I cried
Gearing up for school to start again. This year I am introducing lapbooking to the kids. Big A is all excited about trying something new. She loves scrapbooking so she thinks this is an awesome concept (yes she even used the word concept lol) So I now will be scouring the net to find some lapbook ideas. I am excited to do this with her. Of course the son looked at me like I was crazy saying "I ain’t (I know it’s a word but it drives me nuts when he uses it) cutting and pasting anything. I am not 2." To which I just laughed at him and walked away. Still has to learn that what I say goes LOL
Do you ever feel that you haven’t done enough in this lifetime? I am not sure how all this will come out but I guess I have been in a funk today. My son is almost an adult, Big A is becoming her own person now and it’s just me and Little A. All of that has hit me like a truck. Of course the hubby is there too but I am happy and content in my marriage the only thing we need to work on is spending more time together. I guess what I am worried about is losing my identity, my mom-ness (I know thats not a word but it fits lol).
Like for instance, there are so many talented moms I have been running across lately, and it makes me wonder where my talent is. I can’t sew, I am not all that creative, sure I have been known to have bursts of creativity but nothing major, and aside from my blogging friends I am kept pretty busy and lack that "adult interaction".
I have always said that my talent is being a mom, but many women share that with me, that doesn’t make me unique. I need to reflect on what makes me..me. And I need to find something that I can accomplish so I can step back and be proud of myself. Don’t get me wrong I am proud to be a mom its been my whole life for a very long time. I wanted to be that way back when I would take care of my dolls.
I would like to hear from others who may feel the same and maybe we can offer an ear and support. I am blessed to have what I have. I know there are others hurting right now in ways I can’t even imagine.
Oh my gosh reality came up and smacked me upside the head!!!!
Now it’s been 8 years since Big A had her first tantrum, but she had the most perfect (yep I said perfect) tantrums I have ever seen. We called her tantrums the "Pancake". When she didn’t get something or got mad she would quietly fling herself face first into the ground with her arms and legs spread out and just lay there. If we were out shopping we would just pick her up and it would be over, if we were at home we would just leave her there and she would eventually get over it and get back up.
Little A is the COMPLETE opposite. When she is mad she will let me know, and when she throws a tantrum she rolls all over the place. She hasn’t yet had one in public so I am not sure how that will go, however, my hopes that she too would just pancake eventually were completely dashed last night.
She had a 15 minute scream fest in our living room complete with throwing her head back and forth, rolling everywhere and pulling her little car walker on her head. We just sat there watching her with our mouths hanging open. Hubby grabbed the video camera and caught the last 5 minutes of it which captured her throwing her hands back and grabbing the handle on her car and then she pulled it on her head (duh!!!!).
The best part is while she was still throwing the fit he played the tape on tv and she got quiet right away. She was looking at the screen like "Who is this person and what are they doing?" Then on the tape she screamed so loud that it scared the "her" watching and she started to cry. I picked her up to comfort her (it was a different cry that the fit throwing one I know she was really scared lol) and she passed out in my arms.
So, again I sadly ask, "Oh where, oh where has my pancake gone?"
First let me set my frame of mind up for you all. I have recently been having trouble with my 15 year old son. Nothing too extreme just the typical I am a teen now pulling away from the mom stuff. Breaks my heart that the kids are growing up so fast and I have been trying without success to hang on to his youth. As with typical teens he complains and doesn’t want to do his chores, hates homework (which sucks for him seeing as he is homeschooled lol) and wants to see his girlfriend (his what?????) all the time. And he likes to consider himself an adult SIGH
So fast forward to my game playing. I am playing an awesome RPG game on the Sony PSP that I am just loving. It is called Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology a Namco Bandi game. Well, as I was playing there was some conversation between two of the players that just struck me on a much deeper level than just playing a video game should have (although I am extrememly passionate about gaming) Below is the snippet that really spoke to me.
"No matter how old, someone who sees the world as a prison and wastes their life complaining is just a kid. And no matter how young, someone who knows how to free themselves is a real grown-up"
I showed this to my son which he didn’t get until I explained what it said to me. Do not go through life complaining especially about things only you yourself can change. I have been in pretty crappy situations before and I was the only one able to pull myself out of it and free myself. I certainly didn’t just sit there complaining. And always know that things may be tough for you now but there is ALWAYS somone else who is worse off.
So thank you to whoever wrote the conversation between those two characters. It said alot to me and I hope it speaks to others as well.
It is Pepper Steak….and it’s DELICIOUS.
You can add anything more you would like but to satisfy the picky eaters in my house this is what works for us
INGREDIENTS:
2 pounds strip steak (the kind used for stir-fry (usually 2 packages) or 2lbs. of beef flank steak cut in 1 inch strips)
6 TBSP soy sauce
2 TBSP cornstarch
2 TBSP brown sugar
3 tsp. sesame oil
1 tsp. red pepper flakes
vegetable oil
1 red pepper (I use 2 cause red is my favorite) cut in 1/2 inch strips
1 green pepper cut in 1/2 inch strips
1 medium onion cut in 1 inch strips
2 cloves garlic (or 2 teaspoons minced garlic from jar)
Prep work:
*I prepare the marinade first, then cut the beef, and then do all veggies.
In a large mixing bowl combine the soy sauce, cornstarch, brown sugar, sesame oil and pepper flakes. Mix well until everything is combined. (hubby likes things a bit hot so sometimes I add a dash more Red Pepper Flakes)
Cut meat ( I usually cut the stir fry pieces in half, easier to manage on the fork) and add to marinade covering completely. Set aside.
Cut all veggies, place peppers in bowl (large enough to add more stuff to)
Heat a Tablespoon of veggie oil in wok (or large pan) add peppers. Cook until crisp tender (about 4 minutes)
Remove from pan and place back in bowl. Add a teaspoon of veggie oil and half the meat mixture. Brown until done.
Place cooked meat mixture into bowl with peppers. Add a teaspoon of veggie oil to pan and the rest of the meat mixture. Brown until done. Add to pepper bowl.
MAKE SURE YOU SAVE ALL THE JUICES FROM COOKING IN THE BOWL TOO (The veggie oil use tends to be a little on the high side but it is so you have all those juices)
Add teaspoon veggie oil to pan and place onions in for 3 minutes stirring constantly. When semi transparent add garlic. Cook 30 seconds and then add entire contents of bowl.
Mix until everything is combined turn heat down and cook for 5 minutes (just long enough to heat everything back up)
Serve over rice (we use Jasmine rice, mmm mmm good)
ENJOY!!! Let me know how you like it if you make it. It’s our top favorite dinner
***WARNING - IF REFERENCES TO BABY POOP GROSSES YOU OUT DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER***
I am in total shock at how fast Little A is. Here is what happened….
I am at my desk which faces away from the living room. Little A is getting cranky as she missed her afternoon nap so I stop what I am doing, walk over to where she is to see if she has a bottle. She doesn’t so I tell her I am going to make another one (like she knew what I was saying) And I go into the kitchen right around the corner from where she is.
Now making a bottle of formula takes what? 1 - 2 minutes tops. Ok in that time she was one really sneaky little thing.
I come back around the corner, to see my little angel standing there with no diaper on and some strange looking crap (literally) smeared on the floor and the wall, along with a big puddle of something on the floor. UGH!!!!!!!
I say WTH and call for my son to grab her and hold her still, I run into the kitchen for paper towels, Big A runs upstairs to laughingly tell her Dad that Little A was playing in her poop (to which I promptly tell her that it isn’t funny, not one little bit). After cleaning it all up I threw (not really but I certainly didn’t hold her against me) her in the tub and gave her a good scrubbing. After getting her dressed for night night she very quickly fell asleep.
Life’s hard when you create poop art. It can wipe (haha) you out
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