Cooking for not quite 6.

Cooking. I used to despise it. Hate it, actually. I hated the mess, the infinite list of supplies that must be acquired from the grocery, the amount of work that I put into something that is immediately destroyed or alternately not eaten at all (which is even worse).

Today, I am loving it. I am getting good at it. I can look in my pantry and fridge and know what can be put together for a meal. I menu plan (which is key). Do I cook every night, no. BUT, in the past month, with the exception of our mini-vaca weekend, we have only gone out to eat 5 times, 2 of which were at a local sandwich place where kids eat free. This is huge for us. Huge savings as well! Freezing has become key. There is at least one casserole or dish I make every week that I can freeze. These are great options for the nights we have gymnastics, dance, soccer, swimming, or when I just need a break from cooking. I must also thank pinterest and my most awesome Aunt Amy for hooking me up with so many recipes. This has really got me moving in a forward direction.

I would like to share one of the many great, simple recipes my Aunt Amy has so graciously shared with me. I will be posting more as time goes by. I will also post a picture next time I cook it.

South of the Border Chicken Bake (cooks up like a mexican soup and the kids LOOOOVE it!)

Serving Size: 18 (I usually make 3 pans and freeze 2)

Ingredients:
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
2 cans cream of chicken soup
3.5 cups milk
4 cups cooked chicken- chopped
2 onions finely chopped
2 cups salsa
4 cups cheddar cheese
24 corn tortillas

In a large bowl, combine soups, and milk and stir well

Add pre cooked chicken, onion, salsa, and 3 of the 4 cups of cheddar cheese

Layer tortilla pieces (tortillas cut into 8 pieces) onto bottom of the pan, then add layer of chicken mixture, then add remaining cheese for topping. (makes 3- 8x8 pans)

Cover with foil

Label and freeze

Serve: Thaw casserole, bake in 350 oven for 35-45 minutes or until bubbly.

Maverick is 5 months old.

Dear Maverick,
You are growing up too fast. Yesterday I could fit you in my arms. Today you reach my knees. I once could lay you down and know you weren't going far. Now, you roll all over the place, can sit up, think you need food, have teeth, say "hi", babble "dada", and don't want anything to do with a device that makes you lay down in one spot. You are going places little man, much faster than I anticipated.
I love you son,
Mom

Eco Friendly & Fun

I have a ton of family, and by a ton, I really do mean a ton. As fore mentioned, I like meaningful gifts. I also like to get everyone gifts, but that isn't always in the budget, so I have to get creative. For months now I have been wanting to make my family members wool dryer balls. Unfortunately life tends to get in the way of my grandiose crafty plans. This year, I am on my game. I am done with most of my immediate family (minus my children, they would just find their presents), leaving me time to make these balls. Now, if you don't know about wool dryer balls, you should. They are awesome. Just pop 2-4 of those suckers in your dryer and you have amazingly fluffy clothes, with less drying time and no yucky chemicals from dryer sheets. Yay!

Here is a semi tutorial.

First take 100% wool yarn that is not of a superwash base and wind into a ball.


Next, take wool fiber and needle felt into the balls of yarn. (I got a bag of fun colored scraps off etsy for cheap)


Place each ball into some old ripped pantyhose or tights. Wash with laundry and dry a couple times until desired felt is reached.


Some of my finished products:

Heirloom.

I try to find as many meaningful gifts for people as possible every year. I am not really into just buying a bunch of crap that will be obsolete in a couple months. This year, for my dad, I found a vintage hard hat. For those of you who don't know my dad (Tim), he is a superintendant at a construction company and has worked in construction his entire life. I figure, with all the vintage levels in his office, the hard hat will be a nice edition. In order to make this gift more memorable I am incorporating photography. Last night I took a photo shoot of Maverick wearing the hard had. I intend to have a 8x10 canvas made for him to inclose in the gift as well. Cool, right!? What a cool way to display a piece of history and present life! Throughout time, I thought it would be fun to re-photograph Maverick in the same hard hat. Here are the photo results:





Now to decide on which one. :)

I love holding you in my arms.

Dear Maverick,

You are the sweetest little boy I have ever held in my arms. I will forever miss these days when your body perfectly rests on me, when you have no inclination to move, yet are more comfortable on me than anything or anyone in this entire world. I love you son.

Love,
Mom




I wrote this months ago... I don't know why I never published it until now.

The home birth of John Maverick.

After dinner, the evening of July 28th it started. After doing "the deed" with my dear husband, it took only 30 minutes for my contractions to start. I would not let myself be convinced that it was "real". I continued on with my evening activities, playing outdoors with the kids, some light weeding throughout my overgrown flower beds, and the normal bedtime routine (Bath, Books, Kisses). After getting the girls to bed John and I sat down to play a game of Monopoly to keep my mind off the persistant contractions. By the end of the game they were coming every 4 minutes for 2 minutes long, I knew it was real.

11:30 p.m. my midwife and doula arrive to start setting things up. I was in the tub when they arrived and stayed there until I began getting pruney. I then relied on my ball for comfort and alternated rest periods with walking up and down the stairs. By 4:45 a.m. I was extremely exhausted, asking my midwife to check me and see what kind of progress I had made. I could see it in her face, I wasn't far. Only 4 cm. dialated and 0 station. I felt devastated. My doula and midwife advised me to lay down on my side and try to nap between contractions, so I followed their advise.

It felt like a freight train was charging through my body. I was abruptly awaken by furious contractions 30 minutes after I had lain down. I got up from my bed and made my way to the toilet to pee. Back to back with 10-20 second breaks the contractions raged through my body. Instincts took over at this point. I went back to my ball and squeezed it with all of my might, trying to "breathe" through the contractions to the best of my ability. My midwife decided to check me again, she needed to know why I was in so much pain. "We need to hurry Sally" she said to my doula. I knew he was coming. I had dialated to a 7 and was now at a +3 station. "I think you would be more comfortable in the tub, Jenn, lets try to move in between contractions." I dug deep and mustered up all the strength I could to let go of that ball and make way toward the tub.

2 steps. That is as far as I could make it before I dropped to my hands and knees, barely inside the bathroom doors. I could feel him. HE WAS COMING. I grabbed on to my husbands torso and tried to focus my breathing and low bellows. I kept thinking "You are squeezing him to hard, you are hurting him" but my hands would not ease up, my husband was just going to have to endure. "You are doing so great, he is almost here" my husband chanted to me. I reached down and felt his head emerging. John Maverick born at 6:17 a.m. July 29th 7lbs. 6oz.

My mother and stepmother arrived shortly after. My children woke up at 8:00, for the first time. (I am amazed they didn't wake through my middle of the night screams) Overnight they became big sisters, it was magical, they were completely in awe of their new brother. I couldn't have asked for a better birth. It was absolutely perfect.

Embracing the belly.

As the clock counts down the final days that I will bear a child in my womb I am embracing every second. I am enjoying my hulking belly and will eternally miss the feeling that comes with carrying a child. Although I am anxious and eager to meet my son, a sadness will surely follow, knowing that he is in fact the last child I will deliver.... Assuming Mr.Butler does indeed take the necessary measures to prevent future conceptions.
Yesterday the girls and I painted my belly. Mia thought this was exceptionally awesome, stating "You have the coolest belly EVER mommy."