Momathlon

Sisters

I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while.  And I know I've used this title before but something happened today and I had to capture it.

We were at the beach and the girls were swimming together.  Those two are always in the water - even when no one else is.

Emily body surfed a wave into the shallows and then got up and walked out of the water.  She had to make a wide turn around some rocks to get back into the water and as she did, Michaela was out of sight.  "Where's Michaela?" she asked me.  "right there." I said pointing - just as Michaela came into view for her.  She was so excited to see her still in the water, waiting for her that she turned to me and said, "She's my FAVORITE SISTER EVER!"

This evening, back at home, I was packing the girls up for camp in the morning and Michaela asked me which bathing suit I had packed for Emily.  When I described it to her she looked panicked and said, "She can't wear that one, I dont know how to help her get into that one!"

So sweet.

Happy Birthday Beautiful

Sunday was Michaela's 5th birthday.  We celebrated with a traditional back-yard birthday party complete with Duck, Duck, Goose (played to the words: Hannah, Hannah, Montana) and water balloons.

Later, after everyone had gone, we asked her what her favorite part was.  She thought for a moment and then answered, "Pretty much everything."

Funny, that's what I was going to say about the last 5 years.

We love you Layla-Belle. 

Expect the Unexpected

This morning Doug jumped out and scared Danny.  Danny complained to Dan.

Dan said, "Doug, stop jumping out and scaring people.  Do you know why?"

"Why?" Doug asked.

"Because you dont like it when people do it to you."

"Dad," Doug said, "That's only because I'm not expecting it."

The Devil's Dictionary

Last night Emily turned to Dan and asked, "Daddy, what does STUPID mean?"

Dan looked at her and said, "Emily, you ask me that 10 times a day, every day."

Danny looked up and said, "Maybe that's because she's, uh, *whispering* not very intelligent."

Expect the Unexpected

I took this photo years ago but pulled it out recently for a contest.  The contest focus was "green" so I had to edit the photo to highlight the green in the dragonfly and that made the photograph too dark.

Still, I like it.  It's fun and surprising and it's one of my favorites.  I had to hang out the window to take it which just goes to show you that sometimes you have to go the extra mile to get the shot! 

No Tank You!

The picture below is Doug re-enacting Doug's famous "No Tank You Momma" pose whereby he POLITELY declines my offer of broccolli, carrots, peas, corn or anything else remotely resembling a vegetable, meat or basically anything that isn't WHITE, BREAD, PASTA or PURE SUGAR.

We've faced this pose night after night after night after night until I've completely given up and just give him stuff that I know he likes.

And then, just to F*CK with me I think, last night he walks into the kitchen and says, "I'll try some feta cheese."

And while I'm laughing and watching INCREDULOUSLY he pops a nugget of feta cheese into his mouth, chews it and says, "That's good.  Can I have some with my dinner?" and walks out of the room leaving me looking like a gaping idiot.

I put a teaspoon of feta on his plate and he ate it without a backwards glance.

Tonight he threw a TANTRUM of EPIC PROPORTIONS because he refused to try turkey.  

I think he's trying to kill me.
 

Chicken Adobo

I don't have a picture of this one - which is really for the best because it's not much to look at - but trust me when I tell you it is AMAZING!

I got this recipe from Sarah a hundred years ago when I was young and single and had the energy to 1) read and 2) drive 50 miles EACH WAY to book club.

You MUST try it.  And if you're not convinced let me tell you that it is the only meal I make (except pasta) that my ENTIRE FAMILY eats. (Okay, except Doug. "No Tank You Momma!")  I always serve it with mashed potatoes and carrots and it's a definite favorite.  Especially cold for leftovers!

CHICKEN ADOBO

~4lbs Chicken Thighs (bone-in, skin on.)
1/2 cup Cider Vinegar
1/2 cup soy sauce
9 cloves of crushed garlic
1/2T crushed peppercorns
2 bay leaves

Place chicken skin side down on the bottom of a large pot.  Layer if necessary.  Add other ingredients.  Bring heat to high until liquid simmers and reduce heat to medium high.  Cover.  Turn chicken every 20 minutes for 2 hours.  Liquid level will rise then fall.  This is okay.  Eventual liquid level will be very low.  Try not to burn the chicken.

I like this recipe because it's okay if you start with frozen chicken thighs so you don't have to plan too far ahead.  It DOES cook for 2 hours so it takes SOME planning but you don't have to do too much to it while it's cooking so it's not high maintenance.

TRY IT.

Triathlete

As you can see, Michaela is my sporty one.  

Last summer when I would go for a run she would make me come back to the house before my final lap to get her and we would run the last .8mi loop together.

After the boys quit swimming lessons she insisted to be able to continue even though the teachers were complete WITCHES and I was horrified that I'd ever put my children in their care.

And on Sunday she begged me to take her out to learn to ride the new 'big girl bike' that our neighbor has passed on to her - the one without the training wheels.

The running is going well.  The swimming lessons are going well.  The bike lesson appeared to be an abject failure with both of us ending up screaming and crying - but I've talked to some friends and apparently it was more successful than a lot of other bike lessons.

It was much better than Danny's (7) and Doug's (6) lessons apparently because they still can't ride their bikes!

Anyway, when Michaela wanted to quit trying to learn I told her that if she quit she wouldn't be able to compete in the triathlon that the YMCA puts on.  So she kept going.

I don't know who is more of a role model for whom.