Crock-Pot recipes are better the next day

DAMN are they better. Yum.

Oh, and Keith made roasted brussels sprouts to compliment my meal. They were phenomenal, too. Who would have thought that I liked brussels sprouts? That's a weird name for a food.

Brussels sprouts. Strange name, tasty vegetable.

Mel is cooking?

Yup. I intend to.

I found a recipe that looks easy enough, but it does require me to brown the entire roast before putting it in the Crock-Pot. I'm nervous about that, but a quick Google search calmed me. Doesn't look too tough. And I really REALLY like the fact that there are few ingredients. The fewer, the better in my book.

3 Envelope Roast recipe

Since I'm technically not working today, but we've already paid for the usual three days of child care, I'm able to do some things around the house. This is unusual without a toddler cruising around my feet or a baby asking for food/a diaper change/to be entertained. I'm pretty good at doing household chores with them around, but cooking is an entirely different matter. For some odd reason, I have an issue with the timing of recipes, even when I'm not being called off-task by my children. So with no kids, I really have no excuse. I'm totally going for it. Wish me luck.

So today, I'm thankful for my Crock-Pot. Thanks, Big Oven. I hope I can do you justice.

New Year's Resolution: Gratitude

So I haven't written in a really long time, probably because I have a lot going on. Having a toddler and a new baby in the house has created a time vortex around here. It seems that the second we get them down to sleep in the evening, we're either playing "whack-a-mole", running upstairs to comfort the baby repeatedly, or we're passing out ourselves from sheer exhaustion (caused by playing a very similar game of "whack-a-mole" all night long). So yeah, writing kind of takes a backseat. But I do want to record what's been happening so that I can look back on it and laugh someday. Really, that's all this blog is: a running commentary of things I find funny or sad or ridiculous intended for me (and occasionally my family) to reread in the future, often peppered with long tangents.

Now what was my point? Oh yeah, gratitude. A lot of people make New Year's resolutions to lose weight (I'm getting there, amazingly), become more organized (ha! with kids?!), or get more sleep (see "whack-a-mole" above). I think I'll make a resolution I can actually keep, as I've already had a little practice since the birth of our son. I'm going to resolve to be more

grateful for all of the incredible things in my life. Sure, I'm totally going to report the crazy things that happen and I'll probably be annoyed and even bitter every now and again, but for the most part, I want to spend 2012 awash in gratitude for the little miracles that have been bestowed upon us. Y'know, things like kids, good health, and convection toaster ovens.

Today, I'm marveling at the big things. My two spectacular children and the partner with whom I couldn't have done it.

(You might not be able to see it all, but my husband is decked out in flashy play jewelry. Yup. That's my guy. See what I'm saying? Grateful.)

Sciatica Sucks

Toddler "mommy and me" dance class, I hate you right now.

In the tiki-tiki-tiki-tiki-tiki room...

Against my better judgment, I took Natalie to Disneyland this morning. Last night, I pushed her around the house on her rolling horse and pulled a massive muscle in my lower back. Thinking about carting her, a stroller, a diaper bag, and my own growing belly around the park was making sweat bead on my forehead, but I sucked it up and took her anyway.

We ended up having a great time. We rode the teacups, carousel, it's a small world, and the monorail (twice!). I also took her to see The Enchanted Tiki Room for the first time. She loved it! I know this to be true because of what happened when we got home.

Natalie fell asleep in the car on the ride home, as she usually does--it's nap time and our trips to the park are very active. I set about getting the seat belt undone and pulling her out to transfer her to her crib when I heard her begin to stir on my shoulder. She sang two choruses: "In the tiki-tiki-tiki-tiki-tiki room! In the tiki-tiki-tiki-tiki-tiki room..." and then promptly fell asleep again.

I guess those birds singing and flowers crooning made an impact.

A Valentine's Day Treat

Me: Hey Natalie. What should we get for Daddy for Valentine's Day?

Natalie: A birthday party!

Me: Um...a birthday party is a great idea, but Daddy's birthday isn't until May. What else should we get him?

Natalie: (incoherent mumbling)...shirt...(more incoherent mumbling)

Me: Okay, a shirt we can do. What kind of shirt?

Natalie: A football shirt!

It's the little things in life that make you smile.

Creative Play

Will it screw my kid up if I let her play with tampons?

Seriously.

She opens cabinet doors and then goes spelunking, looking for viable toy options such as these enticing feminine products. Apparently, they are very interesting to the 18-month-old set. I know this because two of these gems kept Natalie occupied for at least 10 minutes and when the guilt took over and I took them away, I had to deal with a full-scale meltdown.

Aside from the fact that their textbook use is kind of gross, they aren't choking hazards, they're not sharp, and mine are made with natural materials. Additionally, tampons are sterile and that is more than I can say for her other toys, which are far more expensive.

So tampons--you get an A+ in my book.