Crocker girls- Age, a bit over 2

On the way to story time

Elie: (singing) Twinkle, twinkle little star, how I wonder how you are...

Me: Elie, it is "what you are"

Elie: No, its "how". I know what it is, it is a star, the song says so.

Me: true... but I think the song is asking "what" a star is, you know, made of

Addilyn: That's easy-peasy, stars are made of God!

Addilyn: YOU are not the boss of me, Elie! MOMMY is. Are you the boss of daddy?

Me: Ummm. No.

Addilyn: Who is the boss of God?

Me: God is his own boss

Addilyn: that must be nice!

Me: (as Annabelle wipes her nose on a stuffed animal) Annabelle, not on that, use your tissue!

Annabelle: Its ok mama, it's Addilyns

So, how was your morning?

Christian Siriano

Sorry about the lousy picture. I would love to say I have some great ones, but I didn't feel like hauling my camera around with me.

So, I survived my first fashion show! It was a lot of fun, a very cool venue, and it is always a kick to watch Matt get treated like a VIP. We were greeted at the door with VIP passes because we were on "the list". We were escorted to the back where the models were all still in street clothes. The clothing was laid out, press and family were around and Matt chatted with Christian and got some pictures done. They shot some video and asked if I wanted my picture with Matt and Christian, which I did not. I was already towering over my husband in my heals and Christian is a good several inches shorter than Matt! I felt like the overstuffed Jolly Green Giant.

We watched the practice walks down the runway, found our seats and waiting for the show. The venue was PACKED. The show was great, I actually really like his stuff. Here is a link if you want to see what we saw. The show itself is only about 20 minutes long.

After the show we were invited into the back, and I am sure to the "after party", but, being the rockstars that we are, we had to get home to our baby sitter. Over all it was a fun afternoon spent in the city with my husband and an item to check off my bucket list.

Fashion week

Swimming up stream. Non-conformity. Square peg, round hole and all that. I want to live differently that those I see. I want to love more, sacrifice even when it is hard, care when it isn't my business. I want to not give in to the culture of "stuff" that I am surrounded by. I want to be ok with my old car, stained furniture, imperfect wardrobe. I want to be comfortable with the choices I make for my children. If homeschooling means that they are not "socialized" and the kids I interact with are the ones who are, I guess I am ok with my sweet, socially "awkward" children. I want my children to value people above things, to care about kindness more than coolness.

An yet.

Matt arranged a partnership between Samsung PC's and a well known fashion designer. Samsung will be on the "catwalk" at fashion week in New York. He has tickets. VIP tickets backstage. To fashion week and this designers show. And I am invited.

My first thought? What will I wear? And all my ideals seem to blow away in the breeze that is pop culture. Things I don't care about, fashion, what is "hot", who the coolest people are, are now on my mind. I try to be mindful about spending my money and energy on what really matters to me, and I can say that none of these have made the list. Not that those are bad things or wrong to care about, it just isn't me. And yet I laid awake last night thinking of what I was going to wear, worrying about weather or not I would stick out like a pregnant, poorly dressed sore thumb among all these people who in all actuality I don't give a rip about and I will never see again.

And there is the rub. When all my ideals are face with the reality of the world and culture I live in, what will reign victorious? Am I confident enough in my choice to be nonconformist to live out loud when others might notice? Will I choose to be content with what I have in the midst of others reveling in excess? Will I be proud of the choices I have made in my life, to be a stay at home mom and not a professional, enough that I carry myself with pride befitting my choice? Do I actually value people more than things?

So I face my closet, my shoe rack, my stack of bags to deal with my first world problem of "what to wear". I will do the best with what I have, both body and wardrobe. I will enjoy the wearable art that I see in fashion week. I will be proud of the work my husband has done. I will see all the areas in my life where my heart desired ideals and my actually life are not in compliance.

This is my life

Costco Chickens

I try to keep my love of big breasts in check, but man, Costco chickens make me really happy! (where did you think this blog post was going?!)

Each Costco trip, about monthly, I buy a rotissery chicken. They are cheap, big and make for quick and easy meals. When I come home, my amazing husband pulls all the meat off and tosses the bones/skin/parts into a big crock pot with some onions, water and other yummys and makes a fabulous batch of stock. (Hint: toss in a few tablespoons of vinegar. It will pull minerals from the bones and cook off so you don't taste it. Very nutritious!) The stock is then cooked all night, frozen and pulled out for soup, risotto or other things.

Now for all that yummy cooked chicken, just waiting for inspiration! Sometimes it just becomes a batch of chicken salad for lunches. Other times it gets tossed on raw spinach with other veggies for a dinner salad. This week, I was needing a Mexican fix, which happens a lot on the East coast. While we might have some amazing things out here, Mexican food is sadly not one of them.

I came across a recipe on pinterest that inspired me. I would like to say I followed the recipe but we all know that just doesn't happen.

Mexican Chicken Casserole:

1 can ranch beans or red beans

1 cup salsa

1 cup non-fat Greek yogurt or sour cream

2 cups cut up cooked chicken or about 1 lb cooked ground beef

1 T. taco seasoning

2 cups crushed corn chips

1-2 cups shredded cheese

Toss everything in the crock pot, stir up, top with the cheese. Be aware of a couple of things: first, how spicy are your beans, salsa and taco seasoning? If all have a kick, when mixed together you might have a meal with some fire. Which, in our house, leads to lots of griping from the little people. Also, if your chips are the left-at-the-bottom of the bag variety, like mine, you might find your dish to be a bit salty.

This recipe combines my love of many things; Mexican flavors, creamy cheesy dishes and the ability to clean things out of my pantry.

I have an inability to throw away the last of a bag of chips.The way I save things you would think I was raised in poverty or in the great depression. I like corn chips and it seems like such a waste to toss out the little guys at the bottom. Sure, you get salsa up to your knuckles if you try to use them for dipping, but that doesn't mean they are worthless! This recipie makes me feel better on so many levels.

I see a blog post in my future about the many uses of crumbs from the bottom of the bag.

Wordless Wednesday- My folks

Back to School

Not a type-o my friends (though on this Blog that is a fair guess) I am headed back to school. Currently trying not to freak. I have my books ordered and classes paid for.

This past year, I all my free time, I was trying to be diligent about figuring out what the heck I am good at. Where is my heart? What gets me excited? After much discussion, I decided to head back to school. On my heart? Women. Motherhood.

The first weekend in March I will be taking an intensive (read: semesters worth of information packed into 3 REALLY long days) course at Columbia University so that I can get licensed as a postpartum parent educator. This is just step one for me, but gets the ball rolling and allows me some career opportunities as I pursue my goal. I will also be working towards my certification as a lactation educator.

So what do I want to be when I grow up? I want to help parents, mostly mothers, feel successful in the most important job that they will ever do; raise their children. After I complete this course work, I would love to spend some time working at a crisis pregnancy center with young moms, helping them bring their new babies home and learning what they need to know to start their parenthood journey. Other than that, I am not really sure. I guess I will just take it year by year, class by class.

For now, I have a bit over a month to finish all my pre required reading and course work. After my class, I have until this new kid shows up to finish the rest. It is a huge undertaking, but I think I can get it done. I figure my chance of completing it BEFORE the new one arrives is MUCH greater that trying to get it done after he is here. My life doesn't seem like it is going to be slowing down in the foreseeable future, so I might as well start!

I kinda like them

Least you think that this was my doing (the matching outfits) it was not. It was 100% the brain child of my eldest. And her sisters were feeling cooperative.

I kinda like my kids. Not always, but lately I have really been having fun with them.

Eliana is the sweetest 6 year old. Helpful and usually very kind. Full of creative games that involve her sisters. Generally loves to spend time "doing school" and can't get enough learning in general. Still has a running commentary about life.

Addilyn is sweet and funny. She is creative in her own right, enjoys playing by herself if Eliana is busy but usually ready to go with whatever crazy game her big sis has invented. She also plays very sweetly with her little sis.

Annabelle is a cuddle bug. Wanting to snuggle and chat, bring me toys, read a story. Always ready for a snack but big enough to wait when I ask her to. Yeah, she melts down. A little sympathy goes a long way for this kid. If I ask her to, she can usually vocalize why she is angry and calms down quickly.

Today is the second rainy day in a row. Ugh. I hate being stuck inside and am not used to it. It just doesn't happen that often in CO. So we blew up a massive ball and rolled around inside of it for a while (after moving the furniture out of the way). Today is National Chocolate Cake day so we youtubed a bunch of videos about where chocolate comes from and are baking a cake. Kids are all napping now and I already consider today a success. I had fun. My kids had fun. Overall, they were nice to each other.

There are childhood stages that are not my favorite. Infanthood comes to mind. But this? I like this. I kinda like these children of mine.

Happy Birthday Addilyn Joy!

Addilyn,

Happy birthday, big girl! I love your laugh, your zest for life, your need to move. I love that you want to be a donut on Halloween and have a rainbow birthday party, your drummer has a beat all it's own and I can't wait to see where it leads you as you grow. Your eyes have a sparkle, both joyous and mischievous. You keep me on my toes, are always ready to snuggle or get in a tickle fight.

You have an uncanny ability to trash clothing, spill milk, run into objects and make everyone in a room smile. With a dialect all your own, you love to chat as you help me in the kitchen or follow me as I straighten up. Content to play quietly by yourself or follow Eliana's lead in a game of pretend, you do such a good job watching out for your little sister.

I am so pleased with the little girl you are becoming, God is going to do such cool things with your life. I count my blessings for every day I get to spend as your mommy, watching your zest and spice for life reminds me to fully live in the moment. You warm my heart every time you hug and kiss my belly, so excited to meet your brother. I am so glad you are ours to raise. Happy birthday, Sunshine.

Love, Mommy