Cell Phone Amputation

I am clumsy. I don't deny that fact. And between me and my kids handling my cell phone, it suffered plenty of drops and kicks over the last 18 months. It was rattling, the mute button was broken and the back plate was covered in a web of teeny cracks. I had fully intended to take it in for a service today (very expensive unfortunately).

Then, last night, I innocently retrieved the garbage can ( you know, the enormous, city supplied green pails?) from the curb and went to toss in a few bags. Unfortunately, it had been raining, and the bottom of the scummy, germ infested, grime covered basin was full of gooey, mystery floaty filled swamp water. When the top of a tied bag reached out and grabbed my cell phone, there was a slow motion decent, followed by a heart wrenching "sploosh" and the shiny vision of a glowing screen submerged in the quagmire.

I was faced with a fateful decision, allow my $300 phone to suffer its untimely death, or dive headfirst into the depths of the sludge and retrieve it...hope it survived, and use the germ ridden carcass of a phone for the duration of my contract.

Well, despite my feet in the air dumpster diving, and diligent drying techniques (followed by a crazy hot shower with purell and lysol for soap) it seems the phone has gone into the great beyond. I feel as though my appendages have all been removed. How is it that less than a decade ago, a giant brick of a cell phone, with spotty service, which was shared by the entire family, transformed into my irremovable life line? What happened to people leaving a message on my machine at home and patiently waiting for my return? What about hand written address books and calendars? Why do i need access to games and endless apps at all waking hours? Why am I so addicted to the gratification of my lightning quick Pavlovian response to the dinging of a text message? And the internet, which used to be a creeping slow, encyclopedia of graphic free data must now be at my fingertips. Do i seriously need to Google every passing thought and question and spell check? Alas, I do...so off to AT&T today.

My Kid?

I think the kids look like both sides of our family, and I have posted some old pictures in the past to prove it. There is never a time i can say 100% they are more Knight than Goodwin, or vice versa, but occasionally, a photo of one of the kids, reminds me of one of the two of us. What do you think about these? I can't find the pic that was the closest resemblance, but you might get the idea from these:

Back Blogged

Ok. I posted a BUNCH today. I had some drafted posts that were partly done, so if you have been peeking in today as I was posting, there may be some "older" new stuff you missed. Let the end of year madness begin!!!!! Time for the thanksgiving-xmas decor-birthday-christmas extravaganza....I will breath again in 8 weeks.

And Lou: Hang on tight, bc i am just searching for some baby photos of YOU i have been meaning to share......stay tuned. =)

BLOG STORM

So, I promised to keep up and post on the blog, but its been 4 weeks, so I already have catching up to do. Please see below...i just posted a bunch of new stuff going back thru october.

Busy Gourmet: Two ingredient muffins, Ghoulish cakeballs and monster teeth

As you know, I am a HUGE fan of simple recipes that taste fantastic. I can get them done in a small amount of time, with little mess, and the kids can participate. So, here is a spin on an old favorite, a new find, and a simple, healthy snack.....

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Ghoulish Cake Balls

Use this recipe with any cake and frosting flavor combo. You can do them in simple balls, or you can press them into silicone ice or candy molds sprayed with a little cooking spray.

1 cake box baked according to directions

(i used red velvet for these spooky creations)

1 tub premade frosting

(i used cream cheese)

2 packages candy coating

(i used white vanilla, but you can add food coloring or use chocolate coating)

Bake the cake according to directions and pull a couple min early to ensure the outside does not get too crisp. Allow to cool to warm. In a large bowl, crumble with your hands or a fork into EXTRA small crumbs. Remove foil lid from frosting and microwave for 10-15 seconds to make pourable, but not molten. Pour 3/4 to one full tub over crumbs and mix well. Melt candy coating according to directions. Form cake mixture into balls or press into and remove from silicone trays. Place shapes on wax paper. Dip into candy coating quickly and allow to dry on wax paper. (additional decorations such as sprinkles or choc chips can also be affixed while coating is still wet.) Once coating is dry, Add any additional decorations you like. (such as splatters of an alternate candy coating color or decorate with a hard drying frosting.) DONE.

I ran out of time, but next year, i will do these in red velvet cake, chocolate coating and white splatters to make them look like mummies.

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Two Ingredient Muffins

Resist the urge to add eggs or oil to this recipe: they WILL turn out. They will be more dense than a typical muffin, but will be incredibly moist. What a sneaky way to get kids to eat a veggie and they are full of fiber. They also lend well to yummy additions such as nuts, chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, and cream cheese frosting or filling.

1 box "super moist" yellow cake mix (18.5 oz)

1 can pumpkin pie filling (15 oz)

(OR 1 can plain pumpkin puree plus:

1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground cloves)

Preheat oven to 350*. Grease or add paper muffin cups to a 12-count muffin tin. Mix ingredients until thoroughly moist. Divide evenly in cups. Bake 20 min or until a toothpick comes out clean when poked into one of the muffins.

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Monster Teeth

SUPER FUN, SUPER EASY, Healthy snack

Sent these for Zach's snack day mid-month and they were a HIT. Partnered with a clear surgical glove full of popcorn and candy corn in the fingertips, these make a playful, healthy halloween snack.

Bag of almond slivers

any color apples

orange juice

Quarter your apples and remove the seeds/stems. On the peel side of the apple wedge, cut a smaller wedge out of the slice. Place apples in a bag with a small bit of orange juice and shake. Coat all exposed apple surfaces to prevent them from browning. Remove apples from bag and poke almond slivers into the inner part of the slice to make creepy teeth. You can use as many as you like on top and bottom to create whatever mouth you like from monster to vampire.

A little man, and his plan

Let's review something I learned very soon after becoming a mother:

Parenting lesson #1: Though you are holding the map and have the best laid plans, you are NOT the one driving the bus, and must be comfortable with re-routing at any given moment. Your child holds the wheel and you are merely the navigator.

To be clear, it is perfectly acceptable, and frankly preferred, to allow your child to believe you are doing the driving. However, you should be prepared for them to make an errant left turn at any given moment and that turn will always be unpredictable and require creative strategies to redirect. Should you be unable to achieve your final destination, you should find happiness with the unexpected alternative your child has arrived upon. I have the utmost admiration for parents who can execute this redirect with grace and a calm smile. I am still learning to do this stylishly.

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For weeks, Reece has been begging for photos in general, particularly those in his Buzz costume and has memorized all the typical Buzz quotes for the occasion. At the sight of a camera, he immediately requests a photo op either for himself or his toys, ("Mommy, take my pictcha!") complete with a goofy "CHEEEEEESE!"

(disregard that the kid is in his undies...comes with the potty training journey)

Given that two year olds are definitely not lacking in personality, I should not have been surprised at the outcome of the pre-trick-or-treat photo session last night. Clearly, there were two completely different agendas at play here. I went in with the plan to execute a memorable photo, while Reece aimed to impede the process by any means available. Funny. Real Funny. Its not the first time I have been faced with a tough to photograph two year old; big brother gave me a run for my money, but this is ridiculous.

Despite my many attempts to calmly adjust to the situation, there was little hope of capturing that coveted "perfect moment"

So, when all else fails, I try to find pleasure in the unexpected, unplanned outcome.

(hatching a menacing plan....see his tongue?)

I decided to enjoy the photo the way it came out....and snap a few of him zooming away.

(to INFINITY...)

I kinda like it this way. Life wouldn't be near as fun if I always had things in perfect order.

OTHER MISC HALLOWEEN PICS:

(a friend from school)

(knocking on their first door)

Retro Halloween

Ok...so, just for fun, I pulled out Zach's old Halloween costume...which Reece has been begging to wear anyway because it makes a fantastic roaring sound. And I dug up pics of Zach a few years ago to add to the mix. Had to laugh as I dug through 30 blurry pics of Z running around in this thing before i found one i could use. Guess he was in the same mood as Buzz was this year.

Reece, 2010 age: 2 years, 3 months

Zach, 2006 age: 1 year, 10 months

Random Fall

Just a few random fall moments to share with you.....

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Bikes Blues and BBQ Motorcycle Parade

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Knight Child #2 that likes to hide in tiny cupboards

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Ingenious Step Stool

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Blurry, but eyes that I adore

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Getting into trouble during "naptime". Nekked and trashing the room....brilliant hiding spot he's chosen too, don't you think?

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This is my driveway most of the time. Zach leaves me "notes" everywhere with phonetically spelled words. This one is his interpretation of the list: Bingo, game, basketball, cat, dog, i dont know, zach

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The mask and cape have been SO much fun this fall. Zach comes up with a different superhero every time. This is "Ultimate Electric" and he shoots lightning from his fists.

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And the wildlife continues to terrorize my flowerbeds..fearless fellas (yea, i know this is a doe and her twins, but who's keeping track?)

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL?

I mentioned before, my elation that Zach is finally old enough to sideline soccer and hit the gridiron. Before the beginning of football season, he was pretty excited too. In fact, I think it very well could have been catastrophic had I not found a team for him to join.

After weeks of lollygagging in the backfield, running sideways-out of bounds, dropping balls and basically counting butterflies, we were beginning to think maybe Zach was a bit more of a book worm than an athlete. Sure, there were flashes of brilliance, but it was far outweighed by goofing around and generally daydreaming.

I will never pressure my kids to participate in something they do not want to, and will be their biggest fan for those they do . HOWEVER, there is always the expectation that they try their best and always finish what they begin. There was zero chance we would pull him out. Each game and practice was followed by lengthy discussions about football strategy that never materialized. He knew exactly what to do and when, he just didn't feel like it. And then, behold, the final game the kid was practically out for the Heisman in comparison to his performance the rest of the season. Go figure, after all the goofing all season, I didnt have my telephoto prepared for some good shots, so i had to make due with the little camera which i happened to have in my purse. I missed most of the good action bc i was too busy screaming him into the endzone.

They played the season closing game under the lights, a momentous occasion for a 5 year old.

Our good friends had given Zach a pair of authentic, kid-sized football gloves, which we had only used to practice at home. Under most circumstances, they could certainly be deemed an unfair advantage, what with the space-age-sticky-mystery-plasm coated palms and all. But, considering that over the past few weeks, the ball appeared to be lathered with a fresh layer of spit polished Turtle Wax and wet soap when thrown to Zach, we opted to let him wear them this last game. And WOW...He played his heart out. Touchdowns, catches, and even REAL offensive blocking for the other runners!

taking the ball from coach for touchdown run #1

WIDE open for catch/touchdown #2

Not sure if it was the lights, the gloves, the prospect it was finally over,.... who cares. Glad we went out on a good note.

SO proud of his trophy, and extra elated it had his name on it.

Panther of the Month

October is winding down and the end of the year madness is ramping up. I've said it for years, but this is the year I am getting my holiday shopping done in November so maybe the month of December will be a little less hectic.

I got an email a few days ago letting me know Zach's birthday is two months away. SIX years!? And as a special treat this month, Zach carried the honor of being his school's Panther of the Month. I have absolutely no idea what that means, but he was extremely pleased with this award. The kids selected were not aware they were being chosen, and the principal extended an invitation to parents of the month's Panthers, to attend the rewards assembly to surprise their kids. Photo Op!

The award came with a month full of special permissions at school, ranging from skipping "nap time" to sitting at the head of the lunch table. Must be a pretty good reward, because even with Halloween coming up, Zach is sad to see October end and a new Panther of the Month to take the torch.

And because its a total coincidence and its fun to share silly old pics: My school was also the Panthers...and here is Chris, the V.ery I.mortant P.anther of the month, circa kindergarten, 1980, Salt Lake City (Check out that collar! lol)