Organic cooking for busy moms and whoever else.

So I have always tried to cook mostly organic for my family and have always tried if not organic to cook healthy, but more often than not it takes time and lots of effort and it has definitely always ruled out meals like mac and cheese- unless it was homemade and hamburger helper was a definite NO.  My husband has asked me since I met him to make him hamburger helper and I had the box in my cart once but couldn't bring myself to buy it after a quick reading of the hodgepodge of ingredients.  YUCK.  I happened to be at Whole Foods the other day and found organic hamburger helper made by Annie's.  They looked great and were fairly inexpensive so I thought I'll give it a whirl.  The beef stroganoff was super tasty and the husband and kids even gave it the seal of approval and it beat making it from scratch.  So since then we have also tried the Cheesy Lasagna and when made with organic beef not only is it super tasty, but easy to make, healthy and only one dish!!!  I also love Annie's white shells with cheese and Alfredo with broccoli.  Try them they are most delicious and yummy. 

I also made a great Turkey Italian Meatloaf the other night that was super good email me if you want the recipe.  Chris even admitted to liking it and he hates meatloaf.

Thought I'd share some of my motherly secrets for other mothers.

Jami

Hair...

I got my hair cut the shortest it has ever been ever and I am still a little freaked out by it, but I am sure I will get used to it. 

Here's a pic:

I guess change is always hard especially for me, but it always feels good to do something for my self.  I got a gift certificate as a baby shower gift to Aveda and I decided why not try something new.  I had a picture up of a hairstyle I liked for at least 6 months and finally decided to do it.  I loved getting my head, neck and shoulders massaged and their products always smell so great... although they should at those prices, but Chris took the little kids and went on errands so I actually just got to relax and enjoy myself.  

Jami    

My Head Might Very Well Explode !!!!

My daughter although adorable decided this week that she would act completely whiney and downright naughty.  She has been throwing fits that would impress even the most seasoned of mothers and screaming for just about everything under the sun.  Yesterday she started as soon as she woke up and by 3:00 after her nap she was in full fit throwing swing.  She got super mad at me because I told her we could only read 2 books (instead of 3) because we had to pick brother up at school and this completely set her off.  She started screaming then and did not stop until 4:15- pretty impressive right?  So I tried being nice, ignoring her, spanking her, putting her in her room but nothing and I mean nothing would stop her.  Finally when she was finished she came to me and started watching TV like nothing had ever happened.  Crazy.  It was a long day the baby would not go to sleep-as usual and in my attempt to get my daughter in the car amidst her screams and the stares from parents at my son's school I smashed my finger in the car door-OUCH and I felt like having a melt down of my own.  It was so much noise and confusion.  I really and truly thought my head might explode.  By bedtime I was so spent I had my husband put the older kids to bed and I watched TV and tried to wind down- it took me a while and then boom I was out.  Needless to say I need some non-mommy time.  I am going out with a friend for "girl time" tomorrow and although I am nervous about leaving the baby I know I need to get away at least for and hour or so.  I'll update on my evening.  I am going to bed early.

Jami

Sleeping Soundly-so far.

So it has been a few days since we moved my daughter into the bottom bunk of my son's room and so far it has been great.  Target had pink polka dot sheets for her and green polka dots for him and they were so happy and excited I thought they would never go to sleep, but after going over a few rules about no talking or jumping on the bed or waking each other up they fell asleep and have been doing well since.  I still have work to do on moving the baby but he will probably stay in our room for at least another month or so.

Jami

Not so much.

So every year we take our children to the glowdeo at the balloon fiesta.  I have never paid for parking simply because by the time you wait in line to get to the lot you could have already parked and walked in which is what we always end up doing.  We park about a block away and walk into the park and save ourselves the $10.00 and the annoyance of to listening to overexcited kids asking why it's taking so long.  Normally aside from a little bit of traffic on the way this has always been a pleasurable experience.  This year however-not so much.

We left our house at about 6:00 the traffic was as always irritating but for some reason when you got near the park they directed you in the complete opposite direction and made you do some weird u-turn thing and wait in more traffic.  I think I can say that it was not just us that were annoyed by this, because about 45 minutes into waiting to go the complete opposite way of the park we gave up and found a parking lot and turned into it along with about 50 other cars.  We took our chances and walked which took us about 35 minutes just to get to the entrance.  By the time we got in it was just about dark and the balloons had already started to glow.  The kids were super excited and it was as always neat to look at.  The glow lasted about 25 minutes and then all the balloons deflated immediately.  GRRR!! All that for 25 minutes.  I fed the baby as quickly as I could and we headed to the exit but there were soooooo many people (who were most offended by us trying to steer a stroller through the crowd) that it took us another 15 minutes to get to the exit.  The fireworks started as we were walking out and the kids got to watch them as we hauled it back to the car.  We got home at about 9:15 and put 3 tired kids to bed-over 3 hours of time just for about 25-30 minutes of glowdeo. I was thoroughly disappointed and my husband and I agreed that we may skip out on the whole thing next year.  

Sorry for the rant

Jami

The BIG Move...

So as if right now the baby is sleeping in our room in a cradle by the bed, my daughter has her own room-she sleeps in a toddler bed which is her crib turned into a bed, and my son has his own room complete with bunk beds.  We had originally thought when we had the new baby that we would let him share a room with my daughter, but now that we thought about it, we feel that the baby should have his own room at least for a while.  

We have decided that the 2 oldest will share the bunk beds and the baby will have his own room.  I am a little nervous about the move, but I think it will just take some time for everyone (including me) to adjust.  We are planning on doing the big move this Saturday night to see how it goes and let them get nice and adjusted before we move the baby out of our room.  We are going to get a girly sheet set for the bottom bunk that will now be occupied by my daughter and a new boy sheet set for my son so they can each have their own bed and feel like it is their own space.  I hope all goes well- my children are so routined which is great most of the time but it is always hard on me when there are major changes such as this.  So wish me luck on the whole move and I will update on whether or not I live through it.  

Jami

My kids!!!

Double Stroller- ASAP

I am in need of a double stroller preferably a Graco just because I know my car seat will fit onto it.  I want to start walking for exercise and the stroller I have now (the sit and stand) is great but my 2 year old keeps jumping off and she has to face backwards and being 2 she needs to be in a seat facing forward especially if I am going to be walking at a faster pace.  I went to the Mother of Twins sale and they had a few but they were either too expensive or not what I am looking for.  If you know anyone who is selling one or want to get rid of one I would love to buy it or take it off your hands.  Please email me if you do.

Thanks

Jami

Allergies

I know it sounds kooky but I had zero allergies before my kids were born and it seems that with each of them my allergies have gotten progressively worse.  I had a cat growing up in my parents house and never seemed to have a problem and definitely never had seasonal allergies and now they are in full swing.  Every time I visit my in-laws (who have a billion and one cats and counting)  I get red itchy eyes, scratchy throat, runny nose and the whole works and it is not fun at all.  I hadn't ever noticed that any of my children were affected in the same way as I am until today...

We went to the in-laws to visit with some family that was in town and my son was crawling around playing with his cousin and the next thing I knew his eyes were red as beets and almost completely swollen shut.  He sounded like he had a cold and looked awful.  I immediately reacted and took him to the nearest store and gave him Benadryl which seemed to help a little.  He has already had 2 doses and his eyes are still super swollen.  YIKES!  I guess that rules out the possibility of us ever owning a cat.  

Cranky Baby-Cranky Mommy.

So for some unknown reason my baby decided yesterday that he would not sleep at all-all day.  He was so exhausted and yet maybe slept a total of 1 hour all day long.  By about 2:00 in the afternoon he was overtired and inconsolable.  I was bouncing him, feeding him, rocking him, walking him, and he just seemed to get even more and more upset.  I was working so hard to get him to sleep I was sweating in a tank top with the air conditioner going.  I felt terrible for him and for myself, but I kept on trying new things.  I finally got him to sleep about 5:00 and he slept for about 20 minutes and proceeded to cry all over again.  After my dinner of cold cuts and macaroni and cheese because that is all I had the time and energy for, I was overtired myself.  My husband helped out by bathing the other kids and getting them ready for bed and reading to them.  I finally got the baby undressed and put his little hiney in the tub with Johnson's Bedtime Bath and he relaxed enough to stop crying.  I let him sit in the tub for a while and when I got him out I put him in his jammies fed him a little more and he started to doze off.  By 8:00 all my kids were in bed so my husband and I finished folding the laundry, I made my kindergartner's lunch and we settled down around 9:00 to watch "Iron Man".  I was so excited to finally be able to relax and the movie looked great...  I woke up around 1:00 in the morning thinking "oh great I slept through the whole movie" and little did I know my husband had fallen asleep too.  I guess we'll be watching it tonight instead.  I guess moms and dads need their rest as much as the kids.  It was definitely a trying day, but today is a new day and is going fine so far.  I just hope that was a one  time no sleeping day because I was exhausted.

My daughter, the baby and I went to the library story time with friends and then to lunch and I can only pray this afternoon goes as smoothly.  

Jami