Mommy mommy mommy mommy mommy

I Fix You

Michael Stanfill, CUA

Michael passed a big exam to become a Certified Usability Analyst today! He attended a series of courses over the last year and proved his stuff early this morning, passing by a large margin. What a man! He deserves a big pat on the back all around. And a smooch from his wife. And as much ice cream as he wants for a month. And maybe even a foot rub.

King of the Yard

Lord of the Manor, arrayed in traditional garb - helmet, diaper, and a wet shirt.

10 Pound Muffins

These are our all-purpose travel muffins. I make them for every trip and they serve as an entire meal. Add chocolate chips and any man will eat them. These are not your friendly light neighborhood bakery muffins. These suckers really weigh about ten pounds apiece!

Mix together in food processor:
1 1/2 c. flour
3/4 c. flax, slightly ground
3/4 c. quick oats
1 c. brown sugar
2 t. soda
1 t. b. powder
1 t. salt
2 t. cinnamon

Then add:
3/4 c. milk
2 T. oil
2 c. carrots, shredded
2 c. apples, chopped
1/2 c. raisins, hydrated
1 c. nuts, chopped
1 t. vanilla
1 egg (optional)
chocolate chips (as required for male consumption)
Anything else in your kitchen cabinet

Bake 375 for 15 to 20 minutes.

Of course I never actually follow the recipe. The egg is optional because if you really use 3/4 c. freshly ground flax seed you don't need an egg. If you don't have the flax seed, use some other hearty chewy grain or seed and add an egg. Or just go ahead and add the egg and chalk it up to protein. In the summer I cut out/back the sugar and just grind up some stevia from my garden with the cuisinart. Again, with enough chocolate chips, no one will notice. Although the stevia does turn them a pretty nasty color. So does spinach, incidentally. Protein powder doesn't change the taste much. We like the raisin/chocolate chip combo but I can see that wouldn't cut it for everyone. The apple skins turn green so be prepared for that, too. Really, these are very ugly muffins, but they are delish and two dozens of these suckers will take you all the way across the US.

Zo'An's French Bread

One of mom's specialties, it turns out fabulous every time. So much faster than making traditional bed, but it doesn't keep as well so make sure to eat it all that night. Not usually a problem.

Mix and let set until bubbly:
1 1/2 t. yeast
3/4 c. water (120 degrees, not over)
1/2 t. salt
1 t. sugar
2 t. olive oil

Mix in 2 c. flour
Knead 10 minutes.
Rest 1/2 hour.
Shape loaf on greased sheet. Brush with salt water, slit top, and bake 30 minutes at 400 degrees.

Prayer

Whenever Michael says the prayer over our food, I have a hard time paying attention. Because I'd rather listen to Jed. Eyes closed, chubby arms clenched tight, he mutters his own little prayer:

Daddy,
Corn,
Daddy,
Butter,
Cars,
Dip Dip,
Thanks,
Mommy,
Mmm Hmmm,
*sigh*
AMEN

I especially love the way he addresses Heavenly Father as "Daddy."

Another Homefront Ad

I'm not sure why I love these so much...

Singing a Song

Jed: "Mom, we should sing a song."
Me: "What song do you want to sing, Jed?"
He looks around thoughtfully and begins to sing in a squeaky, happy little voice:

"Girls.... and bikes.... BIKES and GIRLS!!!!!"


2 going on 20. Yikes.

Minneapolis

Michael says he feels rusty. I say he's still pretty darn awesome.

I Need This

Baby Mop from Chris Milk on Vimeo.

What We're Doing

Recent Updates:

1. We had a hurricane! OK, really it was a "derecho" but here you can see the radar picture I copied. Looked and felt like a hurricane. .87 inches of rain in less than an hour! Here's some more cool info and photos of derechos, they are pretty interesting. If you are a nerd.


2. Baby had a 32 week checkup and all is well. Jed still consistently says the child will be female and a sister. I guess we'll see! Isn't it driving you all crazy? I know, that's why I do it, just to make everyone else annoyed.


3. This week Michael is gone to Minneapolis for a professional certification conference. This is his last session, and soon he'll get to take the test and then we'll be rich and famous... or something. Jed and I are enjoying a week of rampant mother/son bonding, complete with snuggling in bed every morning, eating sausage for every meal, having "couch time" at least five hundred times a day (snuggle under blanket on couch and read book, alternately snuggle under blankets and make a cave and whisper secrets), and lots and lots of socializing. Yesterday when we pulled into the driveway after going to a friend's house for dinner, Jed went berserk when he saw Michael's car and shouted "Daddy's HOME! Daddy's HOME!" Sure felt bad to crush his little hopes. We can't wait til daddy gets home, and I mean that in the literal and non musical sense. Although we have been singing that song every day.

4. Upstairs, the thermostat measures 86 degrees. UGH! Down here below, we are cool, calm, and collected. Hallelujah for the basement! Up until recently, it has mostly been a junk repository. I'm determined to make it our post-baby refuge where Jed, Baby Z and I will hang out all day every day in cool reclined comfort. Now all we need is twenty bookshelves and an on-demand milkshake maker.

Hmmmm, we're hungry. And sharing Jed's cheese stick isn't doing much for me at the moment. We'll have to wrap this up and I'll share more later.

Nesting

Gee, my blog may be neglected but my basement is finally becoming habitable! My carpets are nearly all cleaned! My cabinets cleaned out! My storage room completely organized! My garden almost all in! My herbs and flowers all planted! My sheets folded and sorted! My car decluttered and vacuumed! My carport straightened and swept!

Spring Cleaning + 7 Months Pregnant = Nesting Extraordinaire!

Hi Daddy!

Whenever Michael mows the lawn, Jed runs from window to window, looking out and shouting "HI DADDY! HI DADDY! HI DADDY!" over and over, despite the obvious fact that there is no way Michael can hear him. Jed will keep this up for hours, if necessary, and never seems to bore of watching his dad with the lawn mower.

Hip

Gas to Adrienne's neighborhood garage sale: 50 cents
Model of Michael's favorite car: 25 cents
Pain and suffering from "fast car" electronic noise pollution: $869,000

A dance party like this in my living room: Priceless