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I'm Beth. I'm married to my best friend, and he's pretty awesome. We have two equally awesome kids, Gavin and Sophie.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

You can't say I don't love a deal!

Its hot today!  The kids and I waited until Ernie left for work to go run our errands (which I what I do every day, actually.  We like to get to spend time with him!) and it was pretty hot out when we left.  We had several things to get for their camping trip tomorrow -- oh yeah, I'm not going.  More on that later.  Anyway, we went to Walmart and Safeway.  I got everything taken care of (plus spent about 7 hours in the toy section.  Okay maybe not that long, but you know).  After we got gas in the Yukon I decided it was too freaking hot, and so as a treat, the kids got to get sprites at Jack in the Box.  Sophie was ecstatic...seriously?! A pop?!!  So I ordered 2 small sprites, and the Voice from the Box told me that the large drinks are on special and are only a buck.  So I'd be paying more for smalls.  Forget that! I want to pay the least amount I can, always.  I also know, with the sweet and precious way Sophie has been acting, that she won't want to share with her brother, although one large drink between them would still be too much.  So, they each got a large.  I'm nothing if not a bargain shopper...
 
Sophie's eyes got even bigger than usual when I handed her that drink that's bigger than her leg.  They both geeked out for a while.  This cute picture is of them feeling totally spoiled...about 10 seconds before Sophie knocked hers over because it was too heavy to lift, and then weeping followed.  LUCKILY...another large sprite comes in handy!  They had to share after all.  Haha, take that! 
After the Evening of Sprite, the kids decided they needed to paint.  Actually, okay, they've been bugging me to paint every 10 minutes for the past 2 days.  So I made them eat salad with the promise of painting afterwards, and then Sophie stripped down out of her new clothes so that she could "not get them all crazy".  Brings a tear to my eye, when she tries to avoid messes.  I gave them each a canvas and a palette of paint and they went to town.  I love seeing what they come up with and they get really into it.  Sophie even told me "mom I'm having so much fun, isn't that awesome?!" 
I'm glad these kids are so cute. I started my day off SUPER grumpy...one of the reasons I am staying home from camping.  Okay so, I did not grow up camping.  I'm pretty sure my mom's idea of camping is going to a hotel.  Actually, I'm 100% sure, because that is also my idea of roughing it.  A hotel with no pool.  The one time I went camping as a teenager, was in good ol' Kansas, and the tornado sirens went off.  Which was traumatic.  So anyway, my family is way excited to go.  Lately I have mentioned on facebook that I need a momcation.  Well...this could be my momcation!  I can finish my kitchen cabinets.  I can CLEAN and have it stay clean because no stinky grubby little children will be following me, wreaking havoc.  I can have peace, and quiet.  I will most certainly miss them.  But won't that make me just appreciate them more when they get home? ;)  Plus, no mosquitoes/lack of showers/lack of heating pads for my cramps...and if its too hot I can sit in front of my fan and watch a chick flick.  Yeah that sounds awesome. So, at this moment, I'm not grumpy anymore.  Success!

p.s...I'm saving this in my blackmail file for Teenage Sophie. I've got my eye on you...


Wednesday, July 20, 2011

MMmmmeatloaf

We've been eating paleo for about 6 or 7 months now.  And while sometimes its really easy -- I can't imagine going back to eating pasta or bread or any of that other stuff -- sometimes its sorta hard, like when fries or ice cream sound irresistibly delicious.  You ladies know what I'm talking about. 
I most definitely could NOT have made this switch, though, without some major help.  A lot of that help comes from my super supportive and super fit and healthy husband, but another large portion comes from Sarah Fragoso at Everyday Paleo, who has written the most awesome book!  I say book because it is way more than a cookbook.  A cookbook on steroids maybe.  I have never ever tried an Everyday Paleo recipe that I didn't like.  In fact, Ernie requests them over and over.  And while I do cook other things that are paleo friendly, most of the best stuff I've made has come from the book or the Everyday Paleo website. So thank you THANK YOU to Sarah for helping me exponentially in this huge lifestyle change!
One thing I have been thinking about lately is meatloaf.  I always made really good meatloaf, and I was a little sad that my recipe would be a no-no now.  Yesterday I decided to try a paleo recipe for meatloaf and what do you know...it was AWESOME.  The only downside was that our whole house smelled delicious for an hour while it cooked and we were starving by the time it was ready. :)  So I am going to include the recipe here, courtesy of Sarah Fragoso.  If you're not sure about this crazy paleo stuff, try this!  I bet you like it. :)

Everyday Meatloaf

* 2 pounds ground beef
* 1 cup almond meal
* 2 eggs
* 1- 6 ounce can tomato paste
* 1 finely diced red onion
* 3 minced garlic cloves
* 1/2 tbsp sea salt
* 1/2 cup diced fresh basil
* 1 tsp marjoram
* 2 tsp finely ground black pepper

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix all ingredients by hand in a large mixing bowl.
3. Place mixture into a large glass baking dish, and form into a loaf (Gavin asked "why is it called meatloaf?" this is why.)
4. Bake for 1 hour or until meatloaf is no longer pink in the middle.

This should serve 5, according to the recipe...however, if you have an eater like Ernie, it will serve about 3.  Next time, I plan on making 2 at once so we can actually have some leftovers because I am already wanting more! :)

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Yes, please let your pit bull do whatever it wants.

So last night, imagine my surprise when I looked out my dining room window and saw two giant pitbulls in my driveway!  I thumped on the window and told them to get out of here, and since they apparently noticed my fear, they decided to stay.  They even came up on my porch to visit.  Even though leash laws are clearly posted in our neighborhood, these two muscled beasts were just running around, having the time of their lives intimidating everyone.  The part that bugged me was that I have seen one of the dogs often in the neighborhood, roaming freely.  Never on my street, though, and never in my own yard.  No unwelcome guests should be on my property, much less menacing death machines.  I mean, dogs.  I was home alone with the kids, and it was still the time of day they are playing outside. We like to spend time on the porch but it was taken over by these dogs.  They are obviously owned by someone, and this person doesn't have the decency to keep their dog confined, according to the law.  Do they care about my safety or the safety of my kids? Apparently not. Like many people in our culture today, they don't care about anyone but themselves. 
So I called the Yelm Police.  I called them because when I called Yelm Animal Control, their offices wer closed.  So I spoke with the police.  The officer on duty called me back and said they don't handle domestic animals, and to call animal control.  I asked him what to do if its after hours.  His answer was he wasn't sure.  So this morning, I called Yelm Animal Control.  I was informed that since we are just outside city limits, we're not in their jurisdiction.  Call Thurston County Animal Control.  So I did that.  I heard the words I have quickly gotten used to about this matter...they don't handle this.  Apparently, according to TCAC, no one is contracted to handle animal problems in this area of the county.  The police said they can't do it, Yelm said they can't do it, Thurston County said they can't.  I asked for reasons.  He said while it is still against the law for the animals to be running around loose, there is no one to enforce it.  So why the crap even say its against the law?  I am incredibly frustrated.  Its not just an issue of someone's stray chihuahua.  These two dogs are very large, and were racing around, snarling, scaring my dog and everyone else on the street. 
So, with the encouragement of TCAC, I called my commisioner.  I am not hopeful, but it would be nice if someone there actually cared and tried to help me figure out what to do in situations like this.  How helpless do I feel knowing that no one can do anything??  Yelm charges pit owners $500 a year for owning them, but then they don't care what they allow them to do?  Ridiculous. 
I know a lot of people think pit bulls get bad raps, yadda yadda, and I'ms ure there are nice ones.  But I am still going to be extremely intimidated by them if they are running wild.  And I don't think I should have to just be okay with no one doing anything about it.  According to the police, I have to wait until my life is in danger for them to intercede.  Which is awesome. 
If anyone else cares about this, contact out commisioner, Karen Valenzuela, at 360-786-5440, about changing this "decision" of theirs to have no enforcement.

Monday, July 4, 2011

We made it!

Right now Ernie is at his first day of his new job! Hooray! 
 
We have made it -- its been nearly two years since he got laid off.  Two years of unemployment.  During that time we also had legal stuff to deal with, the worry involved with family court issues: custody, child support, parenting plans, visitations, and a huge one -- attorneys fees.  But we made it.  And most days, I felt like I didn't know how we were getting through it.  But of course, I should know...
"my God will supply all your needs" ~Phil. 4:19

I would be lying if I said that I had that in my mind everyday.  Even most days.  I am too much a pessimist sometimes, as much as I try to think positively. It is scary, the unknown.  I am so thankful that I have a husband who truly 100% believed those words, and remembered them every day.  I never saw him getting down on himself and doubting.  Even when things seemed scary, he always believed that God would provide for us.  And in these two years, He absolutely has.  We have always had a roof over our heads, and we've always been able to pay for it.  We have been able to provide our kids with food without fail, and we have stuck together as a family.  It is not us who made that happen.  Of course, we were willing to do whatever we needed to make it through.  Ernie is an incredibly hard worker and very dedicated.  I know without a doubt I wouldn't have been able to make it through this time without him.  I thank God every day for his support and for his heart and for his desire to provide for his family. 
I know a lot of people scoff at the "God providing" stuff.  And that's okay.  You don't have to believe in my God the way I do.  But it is without doubt that I believe in Him because I have seen what he can do, firsthand.  I see how He has been with us every step of the way through this difficult time.  You know you hear stories of people who have run out of food, or have absolutely no money, and they wake up in the morning and there is miraculously a bag of groceries on the porch.  Or they need a certain amount of money for a bill and have no idea how they'll get it, and mysteriously, someone gives them the exact amount they need...I could always think "oh yeah, that's nice" but just kinda brush that off, because its not personal to me.  But this is exactly how life has been for us!  And I know that it is because of our God. 

"They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them." ~Psalm 112:7

Through these past two years, we have gotten 'bad news' time and time again.  And its still coming, usually in the form of emails from attorneys.  But we have gotten through this.  We have been cared for the entire time.  The bad news will pass.  The bad times pass.  Trust in my God does not. 

A job has been provided for Ernie after all this time and I am so thankful.  A full time job, at that.  As I write this, its 9:30 pm and I am listening to fireworks outside.  Its weird to think that he won't be home anytime soon. This second shift stuff is a huge change for us and will take a lot of adjustment, especially for my 'morning-person' husband.  (Which also means, for me, the night owl. Someone has to get up with the kids!)  But we are happily accepting it.  If he had been offered this job two years ago, would we have been so grateful for it? Or would we have grumbled about him working until 1 am?  There's a reason for everything.  Its hard to see it in the moment, but looking back, things are much more clear.  I need to write that down here so that I can remember it in other times of trouble. ;)  And I know there will be more difficulties ahead.  Life is far from perfect.  But tonight, I am content.  And most of all, thankful. 

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