What's for Dinner?

Like Noelle Robbins, I don't enjoy cooking. When I was first married, I tried to cook most evenings and The Husband often tried is hand at cooking dinner. (Truth be told, he enjoys cooking more than I do and is better at it, too.) But my repertoire was limited and I wasn't a very adventurous cook. It didn't take very long for The Husband to announce is that he had never really liked spaghetti, was tired of chicken and Rice-A-Roni, and didn't like the way I flavored the pepper steak.

This was the beginning of the end of dinner in our house. The final nail - or nails- came in the form of our 5 children - 2 picky eaters, 1 who will try most things and 2 who will eat almost anything.

Now trying to decide what to make for dinner requires evaluating the pros and cons of each meal in relation to every member of the household. (Let's just skip the lecture about making them eat whatever I serve - I just can't do it. Being a picky eater as a child I am too familiar with the child's side of that philosophy. More on that in a later post). If I make something that the majority of the kids will eat, The Husband will most likely turn up his nose. If I make something that The Husband would enjoy, chances are only 2 of the children will eat any of it. Either scenario will probably lead to the making of an alternative dinner or allowing someone to have cereal for dinner, thus creating dinner envy amongst those who ate the original meal, but would have preferred the cereal.

Really it's too much stress for me. About once a week I attempt to make something that the majority of the household will eat. About once a week The Husband makes something that he would like and about half of the family will try it. The rest of the week, well let's just say, we eat a lot of cereal and spaghetti.

While I do not enjoy cooking, I love to bake. Cookies mostly, but I also like to try brownies, fudge, pies (but only those that are made with a graham cracker crust), and cakes (yellow with chocolates frosting mostly). I make the best chocolate chip cookies (ask my friends, they'll back up my claim). For me baking is therapeutic (unless I have more than one little helper, then it's not quite as relaxing). It is also how I can show my love to my family. I have been known to make 3 different cookies in the same day just to appease varied tastes of my children (of course they can't all like the same cookie, that would be too easy). I will gladly whip up a batch of cookies whenever one of my brothers visits (or needs to bring something to a work function). I rarely visit a friend without also bringing a plate of goodies, and my annual Christmas Plates are eagerly awaited by the lucky recipients.

I believe in the grand scheme, my cookies compensate for my lack of gourmet dinners joyously prepared and served. At least that's my story.

Conversation with a nearly 3 year old . . .

One of J's favorite TV shows is Scooby Doo (in all incarnations). Today, while getting him dressed we were singing the Scooby theme song (note to mom -- look up the words to this song). The following conversation ensued.

Mom: Do you like Scooby?

J: No.

Mom: No?

J: I like Daphne?

Mom: Daphne? Why do you like Daphne?

J: 'Cause her cute.

Shoe Shppping . . . again

Size 7.5 wide blue sandal to replace the size 7 wide blue sandal - $3.21

3 gallons of gas to drive the 60 mile roundtrip to a Payless outside my normal shopping zone - $7.50

Finding the last pair of last years sandal that happens to be the ONLY shoe my stubborn nearly-3-year-old will wear - PRICELESS

Conversation with a nearly 6 year old . . . take 2

M: He's the one we love (said while watching the septic* man put things back in his truck).

E: Yeh, we love the skinny one.

M: Yeh, he's the one we love.


Well at least he's gainfully employed (even has his own business, okay he and his brother), he's very polite (but all good Southern boys are), and even a little bit cute. But he's got to be nearly 30. Sorry girls, you'll have to love only from afar.

I'm in soooo much trouble with these two.

* maybe someday I'll post the Septic Saga, but for now just know that the septic guys have spent some quality time at our house lately.

Conversation with a nearly 6 year old . . .

M: Mom, do you know who is my boyfriend?

Mom: No. Who is your boyfriend?

M: Justin J.

Mom: Really. What makes him your boyfriend?

M: He has a really pretty [nap] towel.

And so it begins. Does this mean she'll be dating the boy with the best car?

Accessories Make the Baby

I have noticed lately that I have a uncontrollable urge to coordinate P's paci with her outfit. Blue pajamas, blue paci. Put her in purple clothes in the morning, swap the blue paci for purple. She ends up in a new outfit after lunch and I again swap pacis.

I know your wondering about several things now. First, blue pajamas. Despite after two older sisters P has very few handmedown's, particularly of the pj kind, since M & E were summer babies and P is a winter baby, the sizes just don't match with the seasons. So she is wearing J's sleepers from last winter. Poor girl only has one pink sleeper.

Yes I do really have pacis in all those colors, plus red and yellow. You know how it goes -- all the paci's disappear, so you buy more and then one day every paci you've every purchased finds it's way home and you have about a dozen of them. So now I have pacis in nearly every color -- I'm missing pink and orange and trying very hard to resist the urge to buy them. P is, after all 15 months old and really should not be sucking a paci all that much longer. (I hear you laughing. It's denial I know, but let me pretend, okay?)

Now, if you'll excuse me, P is currently wearing purple (although 2 very different shades) and sucking a blue paci . . .

Oh Happy Day!!

Enough said!