Monday, August 23, 2010

Diary of Motherhood #2

Monday August 23, 2010-




I got up much more rested today and I enjoyed the serenity of the top story of our cozy new mountain home. I sat having my coffee reading Pocketful of Pinecones, but it was hard to concentrate because there were so many beautiful blue jays out talking this morning. I was interrupted so many times, I finally gave up reading and sat watching out the open window while 2 large blue jays got into a bit of a squabble. They flew and dove at each other, actually crashing into each other a few times. It was rather fascinating to watch. I had to wonder what the fight was all about. Soon thereafter, messy-haired babies started coming up the stairs to give me morning greetings one by one.



Grandpa brought up lots of veggies from our old garden at our last house as he is the landlord and it still is not rented out. My mom also sent several bags with him from her garden filled with tomatoes, green beans, squash, zucchini, nectarines, apples, peppers, and corn. So today, I figured lots must be done in order that we do not let any of these delicious veggies go to waste. I got to work making and freezing 3 batches of spaghetti sauce with a zucchini pureed and hidden in the sauce for some extra vitamins. Next, I prepped tomorrow nights side dish which will be a crock pot full of green beans with garlic, onion, 2 slices of bacon, several tomatoes cut up and thrown in and a smidge of olive oil. By that time, my feet were swelling from all the standing and I reheated last nights veggie lasagna for lunch.



After lunch we of course worked through our lessons. All the while, Tanner kept running around disrupting our reading because his tooth was really loose. The big kids were trying everything to coax this tooth out for him. Lessons turned into a pretend dental office with Tanner as the patient. It was rather funny so I let it continue. We did finally finish what we set out to accomplish this afternoon though. As we were finishing up, the kids and I started daydreaming about Jesse and Everett mentioned what it would be like when Jesse was 3. I casually said, “Well that is 3 years from now, you will already be 10 and Wyatt will be 11 and Kayla 13!” The strangest thing happened, Kenna walked over and mentioned, “Mama, I be 6 then.” Ummm yes, she was correct. Either it was a very lucky guess or she is picking up much more than I realized by listening and playing alongside us during home school times.



Evening took a long time to get here today as the heat was causing me mild suffering and swelling. It reached 81 in the house today, which is a very hot day for these mountains. We do not have a/c, which is a luxury I rarely miss, but I missed it today. After dinner, Tanner finally asked me to help him with his wiggly bottom tooth. I wrapped a little floss around it and gave a good yank and out it popped. Everyone laughed in delight. Its so funny how fascinated everyone was with him loosing this tooth. Kenna seemed rather horrified that Tanner’s tooth was no longer in his mouth and to boot was bleeding a tad. She is not one to be able to stand even a drop of blood…….she is a very girly, self-proclaimed princess.



I am sitting here in peace typing as all the kids settle down and watch some television, winding up a long summer day. Its still warm tonight, the air is completely still and the birds have all gone for the evening. The setting sun is peering quietly in orangey purple hues through all the pines and I can barely make out the faint line of the horizon between the trees. I pray for a cool night so the swelling can go down some. Overall, I know summer is coming to an end pretty soon and so is the pregnancy so I remind myself daily that I should be grateful for each day I hold my sweet baby Jesse within me alive and kicking. God will see me through to the end and it is His strength I must rely on more and more each day as discomfort grows along with my belly size.



Nate just called and is working late so I suppose I will head off and sneak in a few more chapters of my book before tucking little toes into beds. Goodnight-

6 comments:

Kris said...

This was such a wonderful post to me. Sometimes just taking a look into the life of another mom is great! I hope your swelling finally went down. You were making me VERY hungry describing all the wonderful veggies that were brought over and what you did to them. May God continue to protect you and little one as you near your delivery date! Thanks for stopping over at my place for a visit and for the encouraging comment you left!

Shannon said...

Hey Janis~
Glad to see you are doing well and CONGRATS on lucky #7. I was hoping to get your granola bar recipe that you posted a couple of years ago on BBC. Thanks~
Shannon (gatorgirl)

Shannon said...

Hey Janis~
Glad to see you are doing well and CONGRATS on Lucky #7!

I am on the hunt for your granola bar recipe, lol. Do you still have it?

Sorry for posting this here but I don't have your email anymore.

Thanks~
Shannon (gatorgirl)

Shannon said...

Sorry for the double post....I thought it didn't go through the first time since it didn't post to your wall.

Farmer Mama said...

Shannon, hmmmm is this the one you are talking about? These are yummy and soft and healthy

Low Fat Chewy Fruit & Oatmeal Bars

Ingredients


3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
One 8-ounce container vanilla or plain low-fat yogurt
2 egg whites, lightly beaten
2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
2 Tbsp. skim milk
2 tsp. vanilla
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt (optional)
3 cups Quaker® Oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)
1 cup diced dried mixed fruit, raisins, or dried cranberries

. .Preparation
Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, combine sugars, yogurt, egg whites, oil, milk, and vanilla; mix well. In medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt; mix well. Add to yogurt mixture; mix well. Stir in oats and fruit.

Spread dough onto bottom of ungreased 13x9-inch baking pan.

Bake 28 to 32 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool completely on wire rack. Cut into bars. Store tightly covered.

Cook’s Notes
Each bar contains .5g oat soluble fiber.

Yield
2 dozen bars

Nutrition Information
1 bar

Shannon said...

Yum, those sound good too....but no they were with PB and choc chips. Not quite as healthy, lol!

btw~sorry for all the posts....I have no idea what I am doing, lol!