It's Almost a Recipe

So, yesterday was a big day around here. My little baby boy graduated pre-K. Sniffle. He looked so big and so darn grown up. I don't know if my heart can take this. The child had a cap (as in cap and gown) and it came home with us. And a little diploma. Sigh.

The other big event was- I went to the grocery store. Why was it a big event? Cause I looked around my cabinets last night and realized that unless I could convince my people that A) ramen was a good meal or B) grilled cheese and soup would be an excellent dinner (again)... I had to brave the grocery store & soon.

As luck would have it, I had E & Jacob with me. No, neither one of my males came into the store with me. Oy. Both would have been whining, but for totally different reasons! No. The men-folk stayed in the car while I ran in. 30 minutes later, I'm happy to say that I had a cart full of tasty food & ingredients! I'm also happy to say that having those two around when it's time to unload the car makes shopping much more enjoyable!

To make a long story even longer- I wasn't really in the mood to make a full-on dinner. Really. The less pots and pans the better. I pulled together some salmon, couscous & a salad.

(isn't it pretty?)

The star of the dinner was the salmon. It was so super easy to make. And good. Did I mention good? In fact, both the husband and the 4 year old have requested that I make it again. Sweet!

This is what I did: I looked at the trusty Internet for 20 minutes looking everywhere for a suitable salmon recipe. And I found nothing. Fantastic. So, I raided my spice cabinet. And made a rub for the salmon.

Salmon Rub:

brown sugar

onion powder

garlic powder

salt

pepper

rub the rub (ha!) all over the fish. front and back.

put in a PAM'd dish.

375 degree oven- 10 minutes... ish. 

Serve to a grateful family.

Delicious. Especially on the youngling's Star Wars plate.

I will say that I'm planning on playing with this a bit. Next time I think I'll add some spicy spices- chili powder, cumin, something like that. 

The Monkey in My Backseat

So, this Monkey graduates from pre-K tomorrow.

Sniffle.

Where did the last almost 5 (count them! 5!) years go? I'm so incredibly proud of him. So thankful to be his mommy. Allow me to brag shamelessly about him for a moment, huh?

Jacob is funny & he knows it. He's sweet and snuggly. He's kind. If someone around him is hurt or upset, Jacob takes it to heart. He will walk over and start to comfort the other kiddo (or adult). He's so smart. And I'm amazed on a daily basis on how much he knows and how much he's learning.

Jacob is a performer! He loves to be the center of attention, on his terms of course! He'll bust out some sweet dance moves or burst into song at the drop of a hat. And I love that. He loves to draw & it's a rare moment when a piece of school work comes home without one of his 'Jacob originals' on the back!

But the thing I'm most proud of is, he's already seeking out and working through his relationship with God. With Jesus. He has that childlike faith and curiosity that propels him to want to know more and more. I love that. Even though being the recipient of those questions scare the squeak out of me sometimes (talk about responsibility!)! I will say this, it's forced me to go deeper in my own faith, that's for sure.

Being a parent is the hardest, most terrifying & the most amazingly wonderful job, I think. And I love it.


With this face. How could I not?

The Bloggergirl's Mommy Manifesto... Part 1

After much thought & careful typing.... I bring to you, The Mommy-Manifesto... part 1
(according to this Bloggergirl)

1)      You will never believe that you can love and protect another human being like this creature.

2)      The cliché about ‘heart walking around outside your body’?.... yeah, its true.

3)   You will never shower without an audience again… at least that’s how it feels.)      

4)   You will never ‘go potty’ again without an audience again… see #3 

5)   You will start using the phrase “go potty”…. Even when the phrase has the same effect as nails on a chalkboard to you.

6)   Your house will never be as clean as you think your childless friends’ houses are. 

7)   Your house will never be as clean as you think your mommy-friends’ houses are.

8)   You will lose socks to the dryer monster. (the “sock baggie”?... yeah. Give it up.)

9)   Your washer and dryer will become your new BFF’s.

10) You will interview and cull through babysitter applicants as if they are applying for top-secret government work... but at some point, you will just hire someone so you can Get Out of the House for an hour or 2. 

11) You will feel guilty about #10.

12) At some point, you will get over #11.

And there you have it. #1-12. I was going to stop at #10... but I felt that #11 & #12 were needed in this case. I'll have my part 2 up soon!

The Triumph. The Tragedy. The Broken Ankle.

Well.

So....

It's been an interesting week around here. (putting it mildly)

Wednesday night, I was on my way into church to pick up the short one from choir when my cell phone rang. It was my dear hubby's ring tone, so I assumed it would be him on the other end.

Nope.

It was my brother-in-law.

Not what I was expecting.

My lovely Bro had some news. He was driving E's car & he was behind the ambulance that was taking E to the hospital. (this would be the moment I stopped walking and did my best statue impersonation)

Let me back up for a moment, that morning, E and I had a convo about our plans that evening. I was on short one detail. E was going to play racquetball with his big brother.

Can you see where this is going?

E broke his ankle playing racquetball.
Good. Grief.
(When I inquired of E later how this happened, he said that he was playing extra-sucky & thought he could make up for the sucktitude by playing extra physical and with more energy. Yeah. My response was probably less than supportive.)

Isn't it cute? E's first broken bone. First IV. First hospital visit. First surgery. My baby is growing up! (Yes, I did just call my husband 'my baby'. Deal.)

He had to have surgery. A couple of pins, steel rod, staples, wire, duct tape and a Jedi Mind Trick were involved with putting that ankle back together. I was more nervous about the surgery than E was. I've had surgery a couple of times, shall we say. And I knew what was to come. But, what I didn't know was how nerve-wracking it would be to have a loved one wheeled away from me. I pretty much, in every way, hated it.

The surgery was super fast- and our surgeon was amazing. He was knowledgeable and really put me at ease. (and thought I was a nurse. I'm not. but, still. that was cool.)

E's on crutches this week and part of next. I'm driving him everywhere his sweet heart desires. He's a bit more than giddy to have me playing chauffeur. Next week he gets his staples out and a walking boot... and hopefully starts driving again!

I'm in every way tempted to post a picture of E in the hospital, but I was informed that any posted pictures would NOT be to the amusement of my beloved.

So, I'll leave you with this one!